Initial Phase of Gaza Truce Framework Almost Complete, States Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the primary part of the United Nations-backed Gaza ceasefire agreement is nearing conclusion, noting that the subsequent phase must include the disarmament of Hamas.
Upcoming Talks in Washington
The Israeli leader mentioned he would examine the following stages later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were codified in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.
“We are nearing complete the initial stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to guarantee that we attain the identical results in the next stage, and that’s something I am eager to discussing with President Trump.”
German Leader Visits Netanyahu
The prime minister was talking at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Stage two must start immediately and then stage three must also be considered.”
Merz is the initial head of state of a significant European state to meet 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 alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
After winning 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 disregards the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.
Details of the Ongoing Ceasefire
Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the remaining 20 living Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a ceasefire 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 estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the same period.
Next Steps and Ambiguous Sequencing
Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, specified a schedule 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 created under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian committee to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.
The order of these measures is not clear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks 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 obligation which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he said.
Potential Options and Political Positions
Netanyahu raised the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “negotiation”, and emphasized that Israel was adamantly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.
International Criminal Court Charges and Legal Proceedings
Netanyahu said the primary reason he would not be able make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as fabricated by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May pending the conclusion of an inquiry.
Netanyahu remarked Khan was “damaging the standing of the ICC” with “trumped-up charges of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.
A separate court, the international court of justice, is reviewing allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry determined that Israel had carried out genocide.
Questioned about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to discuss this at the present time.”
