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Benjamin Netanyahu has remarked that the first stage of the internationally-supported Gaza halt in hostilities agreement is nearing finalization, adding that the second stage must include the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli leader revealed he would discuss the following stages in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN security council decision on 17 November.

“We are nearing finish the initial phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we attain the same objectives in the next phase, and that’s something I look forward to reviewing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a shared news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Stage two must come now and then phase three must also be taken into account.”

Merz is the initial head of state of a leading European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court issued warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a trip was not presently under consideration. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “baseless charges” from a “biased prosecuting office”.

Details of the Current Truce

During the initial stage of the present ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the remaining 20 living Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of over 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the identical timeframe.

Future Stages and Unclear Sequencing

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, set out a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to withdraw farther, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be set up under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders chaired by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian council to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The timeline of these steps is unclear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s crucial to ensure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he asserted.

Possible Options and Political Stances

Netanyahu brought up the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “debate”, and reiterated that Israel was strongly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

ICC Warrants and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu stated the reason he would not be able make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as fabricated by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of shifting focus from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but recused himself from his role in May pending the conclusion of an investigation.

Netanyahu said Khan was “harming the standing of the ICC” with “false charges of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.

Another court, the international court of justice, is considering charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous commission of inquiry determined that Israel had committed genocide.

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