Initial Stage of Gaza Truce Framework Almost Finished, States Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the opening part of the UN-endorsed Gaza truce plan is close to finalization, noting that the second phase must entail the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Discussions in Washington

The Israeli premier stated he would discuss the next steps later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.

“We are nearing finish the initial stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to make sure that we achieve the identical outcomes in the next stage, and that’s something I look forward to discussing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a shared news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Phase two must begin now and then stage three 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 issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had said he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not currently planned. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “biased prosecutor”.

Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire

During the initial stage of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the last 20 surviving Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce line, leaving them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Since 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 Sequencing

Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, specified a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian committee to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.

The order of these measures is unclear in Trump’s plan 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 said.

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Positions

Netanyahu brought up the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “discussion”, and emphasized that Israel was strongly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

ICC Warrants and Legal Proceedings

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

Netanyahu remarked Khan was “destroying the reputation of the ICC” with “false allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

A separate tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is reviewing allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry found that Israel had carried out genocide.

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