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Benjamin Netanyahu has noted that the opening phase of the United Nations-backed Gaza halt in hostilities plan is nearing completion, stating that the second phase must require the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli leader stated he would talk about the subsequent actions in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were formalized in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are nearing finish the first phase,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to guarantee that we secure the identical objectives in the second phase, and that’s something I anticipate discussing with President Trump.”

German Leader Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Phase two must start immediately and then the third phase must also be examined.”

Merz is the first head of state of a major European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his former 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 regardless of the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not presently being considered. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “fabricated allegations” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Details of the Ongoing Truce

Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the remaining 20 living Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 bodies of hostages killed during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.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 killed in Hamas military actions over the same period.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Sequencing

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, set out a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to withdraw farther, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders chaired by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian committee to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The order of these actions is ambiguous in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his statements 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 pledge which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he stated.

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu mentioned the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a topic of “debate”, and reiterated that Israel was firmly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Charges and Legal Cases

Netanyahu said the primary reason he would not be able make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as fabricated by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of shifting focus from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an investigation.

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

Another court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry concluded 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 current juncture.”