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Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that the first part of the United Nations-backed Gaza ceasefire agreement is approaching finalization, stating that the next phase must involve the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

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

“We are nearing conclude the initial phase,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to ensure that we secure the equivalent outcomes in the second stage, and that’s something I anticipate discussing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was talking at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “The second phase must come now and then phase three 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 released warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- 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 said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a trip was not at this time under consideration. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “fabricated allegations” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the remaining 20 living 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. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the identical timeframe.

Future Stages and Unclear Sequencing

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, detailed a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to retreat more, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be created under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders chaired by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian council to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

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

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

Potential Options and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu raised the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “discussion”, and reiterated that Israel was strongly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

ICC Warrants and Legal Proceedings

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 invented by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of diverting attention from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May pending the conclusion of an inquiry.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “harming the credibility of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of starvation and genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Another court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous 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 present time.”