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Benjamin Netanyahu has remarked that the first stage of the United Nations-backed Gaza truce agreement is nearing completion, adding that the next phase must require the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli prime minister stated he would talk about the following stages in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were outlined in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to complete the initial stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to make sure that we achieve the identical results in the second phase, and that’s something I look forward to addressing with President Trump.”

European Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was talking at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Phase two must begin now and then stage three must also be taken into account.”

Merz is the initial head of state of a major European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a trip was not at this time planned. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Terms of the Current Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the final 20 surviving Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 remains of hostages who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, leaving them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was announced on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed more than 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas military actions over the identical period.

Next Steps and Unclear Timeline

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, set out a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to retreat more, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be established under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian committee to run daily administration of Gaza.

The timeline of these steps is vague in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s vital to make sure that Hamas abides not only with the ceasefire, but also with their pledge which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he asserted.

Potential Alternatives and Political Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “discussion”, and stressed that Israel was strongly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Judicial Proceedings

Netanyahu stated the primary reason he would not be able to make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as invented by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May pending the conclusion of an inquiry.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “damaging the reputation of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of deprivation and genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

A separate tribunal, the international court of justice, is considering allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry determined that Israel had committed genocide.

Questioned about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the current juncture.”