First Phase of Gaza Strip Truce Framework Nearly Complete, States Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the opening phase of the UN-endorsed Gaza truce proposal is nearing conclusion, and added that the subsequent stage must require the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli leader mentioned he would address the following stages later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were codified in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We’re about to conclude the initial stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to ensure that we attain the same outcomes in the next stage, and that’s something I am eager to addressing with President Trump.”

European Leader Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a shared media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “The second phase must come now and then the third phase must also be examined.”

Merz is the first leader of a significant European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered 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 invite Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not presently under consideration. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Terms of the Current Truce

During the first phase of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas released the last 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 remains of hostages who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since 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 identical timeframe.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Timeline

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

The sequencing of these measures is unclear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s vital to ensure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their pledge which they agreed to 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 exclude Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “negotiation”, and reiterated that Israel was adamantly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Charges 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 manufactured by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May pending the conclusion of an inquiry.

Netanyahu said Khan was “damaging the reputation of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

Another tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry determined that Israel had committed genocide.

Questioned about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the current juncture.”