🔗 Share this article Initial Phase of Gaza Ceasefire Framework Almost Complete, Says Netanyahu Benjamin Netanyahu has remarked that the first stage of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities plan is nearing finalization, stating that the next phase must entail the demilitarization of Hamas. Forthcoming Talks in Washington The Israeli premier revealed he would discuss the following stages 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 close to finish the initial stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we attain the identical results in the next phase, and that’s something I look forward to discussing with President Trump.” German Chancellor Visits Netanyahu The prime minister was addressing the media at a shared media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Phase two must start immediately and then stage three must also be examined.” Merz is the first leader of a major 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 in Gaza. After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a trip was not at this time under consideration. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “biased prosecutor”. Terms of the Current Ceasefire Under the first phase of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a demarcation line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip. Since the ceasefire was put into effect on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed over 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas military actions over the same timeframe. Next Steps and Unclear Timeline Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, specified a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders led by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian council to run day-to-day administration of Gaza. The sequencing of these actions is vague in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament. “I think it’s crucial 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. Potential Alternatives and Diplomatic Positions Netanyahu raised the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “debate”, and reiterated that Israel was firmly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states. International Criminal Court Charges and Judicial Proceedings Netanyahu said the primary 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 chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May pending the outcome of an inquiry. Netanyahu remarked Khan was “destroying the standing of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of starvation and genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”. A separate court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is reviewing allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous commission of inquiry determined that Israel had committed genocide. Asked about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the present time.”