Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the first phase of the UN-endorsed Gaza ceasefire agreement is close to conclusion. He emphasised that the crucial second stage must involve the complete disarmament of the Hamas militant group.
Washington Talks and Disarmament Demands
Netanyahu revealed he will travel to Washington later this month to discuss the subsequent steps with former US President Donald Trump. Trump's proposals for Gaza were largely codified in UN Security Council Resolution 2803 on 17 November. "We're about to finish the first stage," Netanyahu stated during a press briefing in Jerusalem. "But we have to make sure that we achieve the same results in the second stage, and that's something I look forward to discussing with President Trump."
He stressed that Hamas must not only comply with the ceasefire but also honour its commitment to disarm, leading to a demilitarised Gaza. The sequencing of further steps—including a wider Israeli troop withdrawal and the establishment of an international stabilisation force—remains unclear from both Trump's plan and the UN resolution.
Meeting with German Chancellor Amid ICC Tensions
The Israeli leader made these remarks at a joint conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who visited Jerusalem on Sunday. Merz is the first major European leader to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for the Prime Minister and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year. The warrants allege war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Netanyahu dismissed the warrants as "trumped-up charges" from a "corrupt prosecutor," specifically targeting ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan. He accused Khan of fabricating the charges to divert attention from separate sexual harassment allegations, which Khan denies. Due to these warrants, Netanyahu indicated a reciprocal visit to Germany is currently off the table.
Chancellor Merz, who after winning February's federal elections had initially suggested inviting Netanyahu to Berlin, told reporters that a visit was "not currently under consideration."
Ceasefire Progress and Sticking Points
Under the first phase of the truce, which was declared on 10 October, Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees. The group has also handed over all but one of the 28 bodies of hostages killed during the conflict. Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, retaining control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.
However, violence has not ceased entirely. Since the truce began, Israeli forces have killed more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Hamas attacks have resulted in the deaths of three Israeli soldiers in the same period.
Netanyahu's comments also touched on broader regional issues. He did not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, calling it a subject for "discussion," and reiterated Israel's firm opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state—a goal supported by most European and Arab nations and the UN majority.
The path to a lasting peace remains fraught with uncertainty, with the core issues of Hamas's disarmament, the role of an international force, and the future governance of Gaza still unresolved as leaders prepare for critical talks.
