🔗 Share this article Initial Phase of Gaza Strip Truce Framework Almost Complete, Says Netanyahu Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that the opening stage of the United Nations-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal is close to finalization, noting that the next phase must entail the demilitarization of Hamas. Upcoming Discussions in Washington The Israeli prime minister mentioned he would talk about the future steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN security council decision on 17 November. “We’re about to complete the initial stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to ensure that we attain the identical results in the next phase, and that’s something I anticipate addressing with President Trump.” European Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu The prime minister was speaking at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Phase two must come now and then stage three must also be considered.” Merz is the initial leader of a major European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) 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 winning federal elections in February, Merz had said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a trip was not presently planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”. Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages 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 At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip. Since the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded 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 endorsed them, specified a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to retreat more, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be established under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders chaired by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian council to run daily governance of Gaza. The sequencing of these measures is ambiguous in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament. “I think it’s important to ensure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he stated. Possible Options and Political Stances Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “debate”, and stressed that Israel was strongly opposed the establishment 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. International Criminal Court Charges and Legal Proceedings Netanyahu claimed the primary reason he would not be able to make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described 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 down from his role in May pending the conclusion of an investigation. Netanyahu asserted Khan was “harming the standing of the ICC” with “unfounded charges of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt official”. A separate court, the international court of justice, is considering allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had carried out genocide. Asked about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to discuss this at the current juncture.”