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Benjamin Netanyahu has remarked that the opening phase of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities agreement is nearing conclusion, adding that the next stage must entail the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier revealed he would discuss the next steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were codified in a UN security council decision on 17 November.

“We are close to complete the first stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to make sure that we attain the identical outcomes in the next stage, and that’s something I look forward to addressing with President Trump.”

German Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “The second phase must come now and then phase three must also be taken into account.”

Merz is the first head of state of a significant European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not currently being considered. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “fabricated allegations” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Current Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the remaining 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 Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was put into effect on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of over 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the identical timeframe.

Next Steps and Unclear Sequencing

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, detailed a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to pull back further, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be set up under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian council to run daily governance of Gaza.

The sequencing of these steps is not clear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament.

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

Possible Options and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu mentioned the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “negotiation”, and reiterated that Israel was firmly against 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 Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu claimed the reason he would not be able make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described 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 wrongdoing, but stepped aside from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an investigation.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “destroying the credibility of the ICC” with “unfounded charges of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.

Another court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering allegations that Israel has perpetrated 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 consider this at the moment.”