🔗 Share this article Initial Phase of Gaza Truce Plan Nearly Complete, States Netanyahu Benjamin Netanyahu has commented that the primary phase of the UN-endorsed Gaza truce proposal is nearing finalization, adding that the subsequent stage must require the demilitarization of Hamas. Forthcoming Discussions in Washington The Israeli leader revealed he would address the future steps later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were formalized in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November. “We are nearing conclude the initial phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we secure the same results in the second stage, and that’s something I anticipate addressing with President Trump.” German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu The prime minister was talking at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “The second phase must start immediately and then phase three must also be taken into account.” Merz is the initial leader of a leading 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 war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza. After winning federal elections in February, Merz had said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a trip was not at this time planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “fabricated allegations” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”. Details of the Current Ceasefire Under the first phase of the current ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the remaining 20 surviving Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.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 killed in Hamas attacks over the same period. Next Steps and Unclear Timeline Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, set out a schedule extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to retreat more, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be set up under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders headed by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian committee to run daily administration of Gaza. The timeline of these measures is unclear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks 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 undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he said. Possible Options and Diplomatic Stances Netanyahu brought up the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “debate”, and emphasized that Israel was firmly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states. ICC Charges and Judicial Proceedings Netanyahu claimed the reason he would not be able make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as invented by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of shifting focus from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an inquiry. Netanyahu remarked Khan was “harming the reputation of the ICC” with “false charges of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt official”. A separate tribunal, the international court of justice, is reviewing charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide. Asked about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to consider this at the current juncture.”