🔗 Share this article Initial Stage of Gaza Strip Truce Framework Nearly Finished, States Netanyahu Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the initial part of the internationally-supported Gaza truce proposal is nearing finalization, adding that the next phase must involve the demilitarization of Hamas. Forthcoming Talks in Washington The Israeli leader mentioned he would discuss the future steps later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were formalized in a UN security council decision on 17 November. “We are nearing complete the first stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to ensure that we achieve the same results in the second phase, and that’s something I am eager to discussing with President Trump.” European Chancellor Visits Netanyahu The prime minister was talking at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “The second phase must begin now and then stage three must also be taken into account.” Merz is the first leader of a major European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his former 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 stated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not presently under consideration. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “corrupt prosecutor”. Terms of the Ongoing Ceasefire Under the first phase of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the last 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 bodies of hostages killed during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce line, leaving them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip. Since the ceasefire was declared 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 period. Future Stages and Ambiguous Timeline Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, specified a timetable extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to pull back further, and an international stabilization force 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 administration of Gaza. The order of these steps is not clear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament. “I think it’s crucial to make sure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he asserted. Possible Options and Diplomatic Stances Netanyahu raised the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “debate”, and reiterated that Israel was strongly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states. ICC Charges and Legal Proceedings Netanyahu claimed the primary reason he would not be able make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as manufactured 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 awaiting the conclusion of an inquiry. Netanyahu remarked Khan was “damaging the credibility of the ICC” with “false allegations of starvation and genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”. Another court, the international court of justice, is reviewing allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had carried out genocide. Questioned about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to consider this at the present time.”