🔗 Share this article First Stage of Gaza Strip Ceasefire Plan Nearly Complete, Says Netanyahu Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the initial stage of the UN-endorsed Gaza ceasefire proposal is nearing finalization, and added that the next phase must entail the demilitarization of Hamas. Forthcoming Discussions in Washington The Israeli leader said he would talk about the next steps later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were codified in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November. “We are close to complete the initial stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to make sure that we achieve the equivalent outcomes in the next stage, and that’s something I anticipate addressing with President Trump.” European Leader Visits Netanyahu The prime minister was talking at a shared news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “The second phase must come now and then phase three must also be examined.” Merz is the first leader of a major European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court issued warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a trip was not presently being considered. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “baseless charges” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”. Terms of the Current Truce During the initial stage of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have pulled back to a demarcation line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip. Following the ceasefire was put into effect on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed over 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas military actions over the same period. Next Steps and Unclear Timeline Neither Trump’s suggestions, 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 scheduled to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders chaired by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian committee to run day-to-day administration of Gaza. The order of these actions is not clear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament. “I think it’s important to make sure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their obligation which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he said. Potential Alternatives and Diplomatic Positions Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “debate”, and emphasized that Israel was adamantly 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. International Criminal Court Charges and Judicial Cases Netanyahu said the primary 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 diverting attention from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May pending the outcome of an investigation. Netanyahu said Khan was “destroying the credibility of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”. A separate tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is weighing up allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission determined that Israel had committed genocide. Questioned about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to discuss this at the moment.”