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Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the first segment of the internationally-supported Gaza halt in hostilities plan is close to completion, noting that the second phase must involve the demilitarization of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier said he would talk about 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 finish the first stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we attain the identical objectives in the next phase, and that’s something I look forward to reviewing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Phase two must start immediately and then stage three must also be considered.”

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

Details of the Ongoing Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages in return 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 ceasefire 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 fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the identical timeframe.

Next Steps and Unclear Timeline

Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, set out a timetable extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to withdraw farther, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be set up under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian council to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The order of these steps is not clear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s crucial to ensure 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 Options and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “negotiation”, and reiterated that Israel was firmly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process desired 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 primary 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 chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of diverting attention 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 “false allegations of starvation and genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

A separate court, the international court of justice, is considering allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous commission of inquiry found 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 moment.”