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

Benjamin Netanyahu has observed that the first stage of the UN-endorsed Gaza truce proposal is nearing finalization, stating that the next phase must include the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Discussions in Washington

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

“We are nearing complete the initial stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to ensure that we achieve the same objectives in the second stage, and that’s something I am eager to discussing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Visits Netanyahu

The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “The second phase must start immediately and then the third phase must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial leader of a major European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not at this time planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas released the final 20 surviving Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 bodies of hostages killed during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of over 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the identical timeframe.

Future Stages and Unclear Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, detailed a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to withdraw farther, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be created under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian committee to run daily governance of Gaza.

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

“I think it’s important 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 Alternatives and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu raised the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “negotiation”, and reiterated that Israel was adamantly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments 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 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 shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an investigation.

Netanyahu said Khan was “damaging the standing of the ICC” with “false charges of deprivation and genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.

Another tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is weighing up charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission found that Israel had committed genocide.

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