🔗 Share this article Initial Stage of Gaza Strip Ceasefire Plan Almost Complete, Says Netanyahu Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the first segment of the UN-endorsed Gaza halt in hostilities framework is close to completion, and added that the second phase must include the disarmament of Hamas. Upcoming Discussions in Washington The Israeli leader said he would talk about the subsequent actions in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November. “We are nearing finish the initial phase,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to make sure that we achieve the identical objectives in the second phase, and that’s something I anticipate addressing with President Trump.” German Leader Visits Netanyahu The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Stage two must begin now and then stage three must also be taken into account.” Merz is the initial leader of a major European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) released arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- 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 indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a visit was not presently planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”. Details of the Current Truce During the initial stage of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the remaining 20 surviving 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 who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a ceasefire line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip. Since the ceasefire was announced on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the same timeframe. Next Steps and Unclear Sequencing Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, detailed a schedule transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be established under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders chaired by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian council to run daily governance of Gaza. The timeline of these steps is ambiguous in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament. “I think it’s vital to ensure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their obligation which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he stated. Possible Options and Diplomatic Stances Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “debate”, and reiterated that Israel was strongly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states. International Criminal Court Warrants and Judicial Proceedings Netanyahu claimed the reason he would not be able to 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 shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped aside from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an investigation. Netanyahu remarked Khan was “damaging the reputation of the ICC” with “false allegations of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”. Another court, the international court of justice, is weighing up charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry determined that Israel had committed genocide. Questioned about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to discuss this at the present time.”