First Stage of Gaza Truce Plan Almost Complete, Says Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu has noted that the opening part of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities plan is close to completion, and added that the next phase must entail the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli premier mentioned he would talk about the future steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were outlined in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to finish the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we secure the same results in the next phase, and that’s something I look forward to reviewing with President Trump.”

European Leader Visits Netanyahu

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

Merz is the initial head of state of a leading European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court 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 winning federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not currently being considered. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “baseless charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Terms of the Current Truce

Under the initial stage of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas released the final 20 living Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.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 been responsible for the deaths of over 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the same timeframe.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Timeline

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, specified a timetable extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian council to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The sequencing of these actions is ambiguous in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his comments 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 agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he said.

Potential Options and Diplomatic 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 subject of “negotiation”, and reiterated that Israel was adamantly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu said the primary reason he would not be able 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 means of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but stepped down from his role in May pending the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu said Khan was “damaging the reputation of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised official”.

Another tribunal, the international court of justice, is weighing up charges 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 consider this at the current juncture.”