🔗 Share this article First Phase of Gaza Ceasefire Framework Nearly Finished, States Netanyahu Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the initial phase of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities proposal is nearing completion, adding that the subsequent stage must require the disarmament of Hamas. Forthcoming Discussions in Washington The Israeli leader said he would talk about the subsequent actions in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November. “We are nearing complete the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we achieve the same outcomes in the second stage, and that’s something I am eager to discussing with President Trump.” German Chancellor Visits Netanyahu The prime minister was talking at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Stage two must come now and then the third phase must also be considered.” Merz is the initial leader of a significant European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued 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 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 trip was not currently planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”. Terms of the Current Truce During the initial stage of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip. Following the ceasefire was announced 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 same timeframe. Future Stages and Ambiguous Timeline Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, set out a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be established 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 sequencing of these steps is vague in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament. “I think it’s crucial to ensure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their obligation which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he stated. Possible Options and Diplomatic Positions Netanyahu brought up the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a topic of “discussion”, and emphasized that Israel was strongly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states. ICC Warrants and Judicial Proceedings Netanyahu said the reason he would not be able 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 means of diverting attention from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped aside from his role in May pending the conclusion of an investigation. Netanyahu said Khan was “damaging the credibility of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of deprivation and genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”. A separate tribunal, the international court of justice, is reviewing allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission found that Israel had carried out genocide. Asked about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to discuss this at the moment.”