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Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the initial segment of the internationally-supported Gaza halt in hostilities proposal is close to completion, adding that the second phase must require the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli premier said he would talk about the future steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were codified in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to finish the initial stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to ensure that we secure the identical results in the next phase, and that’s something I am eager to reviewing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Stage two must begin now and then the third phase must also be considered.”

Merz is the first head of state of a leading European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not at this time planned. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Details of the Current Truce

During the initial stage of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the final 20 living Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was put into effect on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas military actions over the identical period.

Next Steps and Unclear Timeline

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, specified a schedule extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to withdraw farther, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be established under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian committee to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

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

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

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu brought up the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “discussion”, and stressed that Israel was adamantly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Judicial Proceedings

Netanyahu claimed the primary reason he would not be able to make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as invented by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu said Khan was “harming the reputation of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised official”.

A separate tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide.

Asked about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the moment.”