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Benjamin Netanyahu has observed that the opening phase of the internationally-supported Gaza halt in hostilities plan is approaching completion, stating that the second phase must require the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

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

“We are close to conclude the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to ensure that we achieve the equivalent outcomes in the second phase, and that’s something I anticipate addressing with President Trump.”

European Leader Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was talking at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “The second phase must come now and then the third phase must also be considered.”

Merz is the initial leader of a major European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his former 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 invite Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not currently under consideration. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “baseless charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Details of the Ongoing Truce

During the first phase of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the last 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange 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. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce line, leaving them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire was put into effect 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 same period.

Future Stages and Unclear Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, detailed a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be established under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders led by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian committee to run daily governance of Gaza.

The sequencing of these actions 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 vital to ensure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their obligation which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he asserted.

Possible Options and Political Stances

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

ICC Warrants and Judicial Proceedings

Netanyahu stated the primary reason he would not be able to make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as invented by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an investigation.

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

A separate tribunal, the international court of justice, is considering allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission found that Israel had carried out genocide.

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