🔗 Share this article First Stage of Gaza Ceasefire Framework Nearly Finished, States Netanyahu Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the initial phase of the internationally-supported Gaza halt in hostilities proposal is close to finalization, noting that the subsequent phase must include the demilitarization of Hamas. Upcoming Talks in Washington The Israeli leader stated he would discuss the next steps in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were formalized in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November. “We are close to complete the first phase,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to make sure that we attain the identical objectives in the next stage, and that’s something I am eager to reviewing with President Trump.” European Chancellor Visits Netanyahu The prime minister was speaking at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Phase two must begin now and then stage three must also be examined.” Merz is the initial leader of a significant European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza. After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a trip was not at this time planned. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “biased prosecuting office”. Terms of the Current Ceasefire During the initial stage of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas freed 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 bodies of hostages killed during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip. Since the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed more than 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the identical timeframe. Next Steps and Ambiguous Timeline Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly endorsed them, set out a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be established under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian committee to run day-to-day administration of Gaza. The order of these measures is not clear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament. “I think it’s important to make sure that Hamas abides not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he stated. Potential Options and Political Stances Netanyahu raised the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “debate”, and stressed that Israel was adamantly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states. ICC Charges and Judicial Proceedings 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 manufactured by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of shifting focus from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but recused himself from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an investigation. Netanyahu said Khan was “harming the reputation of the ICC” with “trumped-up charges of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt official”. Another tribunal, the international court of justice, is reviewing charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry determined that Israel had carried out genocide. Questioned about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to consider this at the current juncture.”