Initial Phase of Gaza Ceasefire Framework Nearly Finished, Says Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the initial phase of the UN-endorsed Gaza ceasefire framework is close to completion, noting that the subsequent phase must include the disarmament of Hamas.
Forthcoming Discussions in Washington
The Israeli leader revealed he would examine the next steps in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were formalized in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.
“We are close to conclude the initial phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to ensure that we attain the same results in the second stage, and that’s something I am eager to addressing with President Trump.”
German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu
The prime minister was speaking at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “The second phase must come now and then stage three must also be considered.”
Merz is the first leader of a significant European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court released warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- 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 said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite 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 prosecutor”.
Details of the Current Truce
During the initial stage of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the remaining 20 living Israeli captives in exchange 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 Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.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 estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the identical period.
Future Stages 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 set up under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian committee to run daily administration of Gaza.
The order of these measures is ambiguous in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament.
“I think it’s vital to ensure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he asserted.
Potential Options and Diplomatic Stances
Netanyahu brought up the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “debate”, and stressed that Israel was firmly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.
International Criminal Court Warrants and Legal Proceedings
Netanyahu said 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 accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May pending the conclusion of an investigation.
Netanyahu remarked Khan was “damaging the standing of the ICC” with “false charges of deprivation and genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.
Another court, the international court of justice, is reviewing allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission found that Israel had carried out genocide.
Asked about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to discuss this at the moment.”
