First Stage of Gaza Truce Framework Almost Finished, States Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu has remarked that the opening part of the United Nations-backed Gaza halt in hostilities framework is nearing finalization, adding that the subsequent stage must entail the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

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

“We’re about to conclude the initial phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to ensure that we secure the identical outcomes in the second phase, and that’s something I look forward to addressing with President Trump.”

German Leader Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a shared press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “The second phase must come now and then the third phase must also be considered.”

Merz is the initial leader of a major European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court issued 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 securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not currently being considered. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Details of the Ongoing Ceasefire

Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli captives in return 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. At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since the ceasefire was announced 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 military actions over the same timeframe.

Next Steps and Unclear Timeline

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, set out a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to retreat more, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be created under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian committee to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The order of these measures is unclear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his statements 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 demilitarise,” he stated.

Potential Alternatives and Political Positions

Netanyahu raised the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a topic of “discussion”, and stressed that Israel was strongly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

ICC Warrants and Legal Cases

Netanyahu stated the reason he would not be able to make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as fabricated by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of diverting attention from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but stepped down from his role in May pending the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “destroying the credibility of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Another court, the international court of justice, is considering allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide.

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