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Benjamin Netanyahu has observed that the first segment of the UN-endorsed Gaza ceasefire agreement is close to completion, noting that the second stage must involve the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli prime minister revealed he would discuss the next steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were formalized in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are close to finish the initial stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we achieve the identical objectives in the second stage, and that’s something I anticipate discussing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a shared press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Stage two must begin now and then stage three must also be examined.”

Merz is the first leader of a leading European state to meet 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 said he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not currently planned. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “biased prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire

During the initial stage of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas released the final 20 surviving Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages killed during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back 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 killed over 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the same period.

Next Steps and Unclear Timeline

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, detailed a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to pull back further, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be established under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian committee to run daily administration of Gaza.

The timeline 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 important to make sure that Hamas abides not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he asserted.

Potential Alternatives and Political Positions

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “debate”, and emphasized that Israel was firmly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the aim 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 stated the primary reason he would not be able to make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as fabricated by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, 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 “unfounded charges of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

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

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