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Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the first stage of the United Nations-backed Gaza halt in hostilities agreement is close to completion, adding that the next stage must entail the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli premier stated he would examine the future steps in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were codified in a UN security council decision on 17 November.

“We’re about to conclude the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we achieve the equivalent results in the second phase, and that’s something I am eager to discussing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a shared media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Stage two must begin now and then stage three must also be examined.”

Merz is the first head of state of a leading European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) released 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 allegations in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not presently planned. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “biased prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Ongoing Truce

During the initial stage of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the last 20 surviving Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

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

Future Stages and Unclear Timeline

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, specified a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to withdraw farther, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be set up under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders headed by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian council to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The sequencing of these actions is unclear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

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

Potential Options and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu brought up the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “debate”, and stressed that Israel was firmly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Judicial Proceedings

Netanyahu said the reason he would not be able to make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as manufactured 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 stepped down from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an inquiry.

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

A separate tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is weighing up charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission determined that Israel had carried out genocide.

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