First Phase of Gaza Strip Ceasefire Plan Almost Finished, States Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the opening part of the United Nations-backed Gaza ceasefire plan is nearing conclusion, adding that the next phase must entail the demilitarization of Hamas.
Forthcoming Talks in Washington
The Israeli premier stated he would address the following stages later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.
“We’re about to conclude the first stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to guarantee that we attain the same results in the next phase, and that’s something I anticipate reviewing with President Trump.”
German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu
The prime minister was speaking at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Phase two must begin now and then phase three must also be considered.”
Merz is the first leader of a significant European state to hold talks 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 allegations in Gaza.
After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not currently being considered. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.
Terms of the Current Ceasefire
During the initial stage of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the last 20 surviving Israeli captives in return 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 truce line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.
Since the ceasefire was announced on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of over 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the identical timeframe.
Future Stages and Unclear Sequencing
Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, detailed a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to withdraw farther, 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 council to run daily governance of Gaza.
The sequencing of these actions is not clear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on 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 demilitarise,” he said.
Possible Alternatives and Political Stances
Netanyahu raised the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “debate”, and emphasized that Israel was strongly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.
International Criminal Court 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 characterized as manufactured by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of shifting focus from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but recused himself from his role in May pending the conclusion of an inquiry.
Netanyahu asserted Khan was “damaging the standing of the ICC” with “trumped-up charges of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.
A separate court, the international court of justice, is reviewing allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry found that Israel had committed genocide.
Asked about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to consider this at the present time.”
