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Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the first part of the UN-endorsed Gaza truce proposal is approaching finalization, stating that the second phase must include the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader revealed he would discuss the future steps later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were codified in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We are nearing finish the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we achieve the equivalent results in the second stage, and that’s something I am eager to reviewing with President Trump.”

European Leader Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Stage two must start immediately and then phase three must also be considered.”

Merz is the initial leader of a significant European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court issued 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 winning federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a trip was not at this time under consideration. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “fabricated charges” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire

Under the first phase of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire was put into effect 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.

Future Stages and Unclear Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, set out a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to withdraw farther, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian council to run daily administration of Gaza.

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

“I think it’s vital to ensure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their obligation which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he said.

Potential Alternatives and Political Stances

Netanyahu raised the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a topic of “negotiation”, and reiterated that Israel was strongly opposed the establishment 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.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Judicial Cases

Netanyahu claimed the primary reason he would not be able make a return 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 diverting attention from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but recused himself from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “damaging the standing of the ICC” with “false charges of deprivation and genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

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