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Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the opening part of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities framework is approaching finalization, stating that the next stage must require the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier said he would address the following stages in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were codified in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to complete the first stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to ensure that we secure the equivalent results in the second phase, and that’s something I anticipate addressing with President Trump.”

European Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “The second phase must come now and then stage three must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial head of state of a major European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) 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 in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a trip was not at this time under consideration. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “baseless charges” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas released the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages in return 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. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a demarcation line, resulting in 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 approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas military actions over the identical timeframe.

Future Stages and Unclear Sequencing

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, specified a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to pull back further, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be set up under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders chaired 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 stressed Hamas disarmament.

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

Possible Options and Political Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “discussion”, and emphasized that Israel was strongly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Judicial Cases

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

Netanyahu said Khan was “harming the reputation of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised official”.

Another tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is weighing up allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide.

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