First Phase of Gaza Strip Ceasefire Plan Almost Finished, Says Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu has noted that the opening stage of the UN-endorsed Gaza ceasefire framework is close to completion, noting that the subsequent phase must require the demilitarization of Hamas.
Forthcoming Discussions in Washington
The Israeli prime minister said he would examine the following stages in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were formalized in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.
“We are nearing conclude the first stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to guarantee that we achieve the identical outcomes in the next stage, and that’s something I am eager to addressing with President Trump.”
European Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu
The prime minister was addressing the media at a shared press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “The second phase must start immediately 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 (ICC) issued warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.
After winning federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not at this time being considered. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “fabricated charges” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.
Terms of the Current Ceasefire
Under the initial stage of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the last 20 surviving Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.
Following the ceasefire was declared 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 same timeframe.
Next Steps and Ambiguous Timeline
Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, specified a schedule extending the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders led by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian committee to run daily administration of Gaza.
The sequencing of these steps is not clear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.
“I think it’s important to make sure that Hamas abides not only with the ceasefire, but also with their pledge which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he asserted.
Potential Alternatives and Political Positions
Netanyahu brought up the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a topic of “debate”, and reiterated that Israel was adamantly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the aim 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 Legal Cases
Netanyahu stated the reason he would not be able make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as manufactured 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 misconduct, but recused himself from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an investigation.
Netanyahu said Khan was “harming the standing of the ICC” with “false charges of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.
Another tribunal, the international court of justice, is considering charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission found that Israel had committed genocide.
Questioned about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to consider this at the moment.”
