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Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the first stage of the UN-endorsed Gaza ceasefire plan is approaching conclusion, adding that the second stage must require the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli prime minister mentioned he would address the next steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were formalized in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We’re about to complete the first phase,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to ensure that we achieve the identical objectives in the next phase, and that’s something I look forward to addressing with President Trump.”

European Leader Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Phase two must start immediately and then the third phase must also be examined.”

Merz is the first head of state of a major European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) 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 winning federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not currently planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Details of the Ongoing Ceasefire

Under the first phase of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the final 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has transferred 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 At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, leaving them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was put into effect on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed over 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas military actions over the same timeframe.

Next Steps and Unclear Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, specified a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders chaired by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian council to run daily administration of Gaza.

The sequencing of these steps is vague in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s important to ensure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he said.

Potential Alternatives and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu raised the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “debate”, and stressed that Israel was firmly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Charges and Judicial Cases

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

Netanyahu said Khan was “damaging the standing of the ICC” with “false charges of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised official”.

A separate tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry found that Israel had carried out genocide.

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