First Phase of Gaza Ceasefire Framework Nearly Finished, States Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the primary segment of the United Nations-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal is close to conclusion, and added that the subsequent stage must include the disarmament of Hamas.
Forthcoming Talks in Washington
The Israeli premier mentioned he would examine the following stages in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were formalized in a UN security council decision on 17 November.
“We’re about to complete the initial phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we achieve the equivalent objectives in the second stage, and that’s something I anticipate reviewing with President Trump.”
German Chancellor Visits Netanyahu
The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Stage two must come now and then stage three must also be taken into account.”
Merz is the initial head of state of a major European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- 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 stated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a trip was not presently under consideration. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “fabricated allegations” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.
Terms of the Current Ceasefire
During the initial stage of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the last 20 living Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 remains of hostages who died during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.
Since 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 killed in Hamas attacks over the identical period.
Next Steps and Unclear Sequencing
Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, specified a schedule extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be established under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian committee to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.
The timeline of these measures is vague in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.
“I think it’s important to make sure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he asserted.
Potential Alternatives and Diplomatic Stances
Netanyahu raised the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “negotiation”, and stressed that Israel was firmly opposed the establishment 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.
ICC Charges and Judicial Proceedings
Netanyahu said the primary reason he would not be able to make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as manufactured by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an investigation.
Netanyahu remarked Khan was “destroying the reputation of the ICC” with “false allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.
A separate court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is reviewing charges that Israel has perpetrated 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 no reason to discuss this at the moment.”
