First Stage of Gaza Strip Ceasefire Plan Nearly Complete, States Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the first phase of the United Nations-backed Gaza truce framework is nearing finalization, noting that the second stage must include the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli prime minister mentioned he would talk about the next steps in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We are nearing conclude the initial stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to ensure that we secure the same results in the second phase, and that’s something I look forward to addressing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Phase two must come now and then the third phase must also be considered.”

Merz is the initial leader of a leading European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not at this time planned. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “fabricated charges” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Details of the Ongoing Truce

Under the first phase of the present ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the final 20 surviving Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following 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 attacks over the same timeframe.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Timeline

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, set out a schedule extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders chaired by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian council to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The order of these steps is unclear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his remarks 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 obligation which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he said.

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu raised the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “negotiation”, and reiterated that Israel was adamantly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Charges and Judicial Cases

Netanyahu said 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 diverting attention from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May pending the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “damaging the standing of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.

A separate court, the international court of justice, is weighing up charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission found that Israel had carried out genocide.

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