Initial Phase of Gaza Strip Ceasefire Plan Almost Finished, States Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the initial part of the internationally-supported Gaza ceasefire framework is approaching conclusion, noting that the subsequent phase must include the demilitarization of Hamas.
Upcoming Discussions in Washington
The Israeli premier revealed he would talk about the future steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were codified in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.
“We’re about to finish the first stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we achieve the equivalent results in the next stage, and that’s something I am eager to reviewing 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: “Phase two must come now and then the third phase must also be taken into account.”
Merz is the first leader of a significant European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) released 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 stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not at this time under consideration. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.
Terms of the Current Ceasefire
During the initial stage of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas released the remaining 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 killed during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a demarcation line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.
Following the ceasefire was announced 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 timeframe.
Next Steps and Ambiguous Timeline
Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, specified a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to pull back further, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be set up under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian committee to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.
The timeline of these steps is not clear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.
“I think it’s important to make sure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their pledge which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he stated.
Possible Options and Political Positions
Netanyahu raised the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “discussion”, and stressed that Israel was firmly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.
International Criminal Court Warrants and Judicial Cases
Netanyahu claimed the reason he would not be able make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as invented by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped aside from his role in May pending the conclusion of an investigation.
Netanyahu said Khan was “damaging the reputation of the ICC” with “trumped-up charges of deprivation and genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.
A separate tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is reviewing charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission found that Israel had committed genocide.
Asked about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the moment.”