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Benjamin Netanyahu has remarked that the first stage of the internationally-supported Gaza truce agreement is close to conclusion, noting that the next stage must require the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli premier stated he would address the subsequent actions in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were formalized in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We’re about to complete the initial stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to guarantee that we attain the same objectives in the second phase, and that’s something I anticipate addressing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

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

Merz is the initial leader of a major European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered 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 in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not at this time under consideration. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire

During the initial stage of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages who died during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

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

Future Stages and Ambiguous Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, set out a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders chaired by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian council to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The timeline of these measures is not clear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his comments 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 obligation which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he asserted.

Possible Options and Political Positions

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “discussion”, and emphasized 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.

International Criminal Court Charges and Judicial Cases

Netanyahu said the primary reason he would not be able make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as fabricated by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of diverting attention from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an investigation.

Netanyahu said Khan was “damaging the credibility of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised official”.

Another court, the international court of justice, is reviewing allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission found that Israel had carried out genocide.

Asked about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to discuss this at the moment.”