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Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the primary segment of the UN-endorsed Gaza ceasefire plan is nearing conclusion, noting that the subsequent phase must include the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader revealed he would discuss the subsequent actions in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were outlined in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are close to finish the initial phase,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to make sure that we attain the identical results in the second stage, and that’s something I anticipate reviewing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was talking at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “The second phase must begin now and then the third phase must also be considered.”

Merz is the first leader of a leading European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court issued 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 said he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a trip was not currently being considered. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “baseless charges” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Details of the Ongoing Truce

During the first phase 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 remains of hostages who died during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire was announced on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed over 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the identical period.

Next Steps and Unclear Sequencing

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, specified a schedule extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be established under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders headed by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian committee to run daily administration of Gaza.

The order of these actions is unclear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s important to ensure 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 Options and Political Positions

Netanyahu raised the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “negotiation”, and reiterated that Israel was strongly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

ICC Charges and Legal Cases

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

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “damaging the reputation of the ICC” with “trumped-up charges of deprivation and genocide” from a “compromised official”.

A separate court, the international court of justice, is considering allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission determined that Israel had committed genocide.

Asked about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to discuss this at the present time.”