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Benjamin Netanyahu has remarked that the primary part of the UN-endorsed Gaza ceasefire framework is nearing completion, stating that the subsequent stage must include the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier mentioned he would address the subsequent actions in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were codified in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to conclude the first stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to guarantee that we achieve the same results in the next stage, and that’s something I look forward to discussing with President Trump.”

European Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was talking at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Phase two must begin now and then stage three must also be taken into account.”

Merz is the first head of state of a major European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- 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 despite the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a trip was not presently planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “baseless charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Details of the Ongoing Truce

Under the first phase of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire was declared 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 period.

Next Steps and Unclear Sequencing

Neither Trump’s proposals, 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 scheduled to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be established under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders led by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian council to run daily administration of Gaza.

The order of these steps is unclear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s vital 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 asserted.

Potential Alternatives and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “negotiation”, and reiterated that Israel was firmly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Charges and Legal Cases

Netanyahu stated the primary 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 shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but recused himself from his role in May pending the conclusion of an inquiry.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “destroying the credibility of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of deprivation and genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

A separate tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is weighing up allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide.

Questioned about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to consider this at the current juncture.”