Initial Stage of Gaza Ceasefire Framework Almost Finished, States Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu has noted that the primary part of the United Nations-backed Gaza truce framework is nearing conclusion, stating that the second phase must require the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier revealed he would examine the subsequent actions in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were codified in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are nearing complete the initial phase,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to guarantee that we attain the equivalent results in the second stage, and that’s something I look forward to discussing with President Trump.”

German Leader Visits Netanyahu

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

Merz is the first leader of a major European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) released arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

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

Details of the Current Truce

Under the first phase of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 bodies of hostages killed during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since 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 military actions over the identical timeframe.

Next Steps and Unclear Timeline

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, set out a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to withdraw farther, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be established under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders chaired by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian council to run daily governance of Gaza.

The timeline of these actions is not clear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament.

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

Possible Alternatives and Political Stances

Netanyahu raised the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a topic of “debate”, and reiterated that Israel was strongly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Charges and Legal 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 top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May pending the conclusion of an inquiry.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “damaging the reputation of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of deprivation and genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

A separate tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is reviewing charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission determined that Israel had committed genocide.

Asked about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to discuss this at the present time.”