Initial Stage of Gaza Truce Framework Almost Complete, States Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu has noted that the first stage of the UN-endorsed Gaza ceasefire agreement is close to conclusion, adding that the second stage must entail the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader revealed he would address the following stages later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were formalized in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to conclude the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we attain the same objectives in the second phase, and that’s something I anticipate discussing with President Trump.”

German Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Stage two must begin now and then the third phase must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial head of state of a significant European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court 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 welcome Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not presently being considered. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Details of the Current Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the last 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 bodies of hostages killed during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was announced on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the same timeframe.

Future Stages and Ambiguous Sequencing

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, detailed a schedule extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian council to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

The sequencing 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 adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their pledge which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he stated.

Potential Alternatives and Political Positions

Netanyahu raised the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “debate”, and stressed that Israel was adamantly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Warrants and Judicial Proceedings

Netanyahu claimed 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 top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of shifting focus from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped aside from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an inquiry.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “harming the standing of the ICC” with “trumped-up charges of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

A separate tribunal, the international court of justice, is weighing up allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had carried out genocide.

Questioned about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to discuss this at the moment.”