🔗 Share this article

Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the opening phase of the United Nations-backed Gaza halt in hostilities plan is nearing completion, adding that the second phase must include the disarmament of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli premier stated he would discuss the following stages in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were outlined in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We are close to finish the first stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we achieve the same outcomes in the next phase, and that’s something I anticipate reviewing with President Trump.”

German Leader Visits Netanyahu

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

Merz is the initial leader of a significant European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not presently planned. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Terms of the Current Ceasefire

During the first phase of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas released the remaining 20 surviving Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages who died during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce line, resulting in 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 approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas military actions over the same period.

Next Steps and Unclear Timeline

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, set out a timetable extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be established under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian committee to run daily administration of Gaza.

The order of these measures is ambiguous in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s crucial to ensure that Hamas abides not only with the ceasefire, but also with their pledge which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he said.

Possible Alternatives and Political Stances

Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “negotiation”, and stressed that Israel was adamantly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Legal Cases

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

Netanyahu said Khan was “destroying the standing of the ICC” with “false allegations of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

A separate court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide.

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