First Stage of Gaza Strip Ceasefire Plan Almost Finished, States Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the primary segment of the internationally-supported Gaza truce plan is nearing conclusion, and added that the subsequent phase must entail the demilitarization of Hamas.
Forthcoming Discussions in Washington
The Israeli premier mentioned he would discuss the following stages in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were outlined in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.
“We are nearing finish the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we secure the equivalent outcomes in the next stage, and that’s something I anticipate addressing with President Trump.”
German Leader Visits Netanyahu
The prime minister was addressing the media at a shared press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Stage two must begin now and then stage three must also be examined.”
Merz is the initial leader of a significant European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered 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 in Gaza.
After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not currently planned. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “baseless charges” from a “biased prosecutor”.
Details of the Current Truce
During the initial stage of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the last 20 surviving Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.
Following the ceasefire was announced on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed over 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded 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 largely supported them, set out a schedule extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders headed by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian committee to run daily administration of Gaza.
The timeline of these steps is not clear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.
“I think it’s crucial to make sure that Hamas abides not only with the ceasefire, but also with their obligation which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he stated.
Potential Options and Diplomatic Positions
Netanyahu mentioned the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “discussion”, and stressed that Israel was adamantly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.
ICC Charges and Judicial Proceedings
Netanyahu stated the primary 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 way of diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but stepped down from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an investigation.
Netanyahu said Khan was “harming the credibility of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of starvation and genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.
Another tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission concluded that Israel had carried out genocide.
Asked about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the present time.”
