Initial Phase of Gaza Strip Truce Plan Almost Complete, States Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu has commented that the initial stage of the United Nations-backed Gaza halt in hostilities proposal is nearing finalization, stating that the subsequent phase must require the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader revealed he would examine the subsequent actions in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were codified in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We’re about to complete the initial phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we attain the identical results in the second phase, and that’s something I anticipate reviewing with President Trump.”

German Leader Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was talking at a shared media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Stage two must come now and then the third phase must also be considered.”

Merz is the first head of state of a significant European state to hold talks with 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 securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a trip was not presently being considered. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “biased prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Ongoing Truce

Under the first phase of the present ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the final 20 surviving Israeli hostages in exchange 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 At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, leaving them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of over 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas military actions over the same period.

Next Steps and Ambiguous 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 supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be established under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian council to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The timeline of these measures is vague in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s important to make sure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he said.

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Stances

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

International Criminal Court Warrants and Judicial Proceedings

Netanyahu claimed the 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 top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of diverting attention from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an investigation.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “damaging the reputation of the ICC” with “false allegations of deprivation and 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 independent commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide.

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