First Phase of Gaza Truce Framework Almost Finished, States Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the first stage of the United Nations-backed Gaza halt in hostilities framework is nearing completion, adding that the subsequent stage must require the demilitarization of Hamas.
Upcoming Talks in Washington
The Israeli prime minister revealed he would address the following stages in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were codified in a UN security council decision on 17 November.
“We’re about to conclude the initial stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we achieve the same outcomes in the next stage, and that’s something I am eager to addressing with President Trump.”
German Chancellor Visits Netanyahu
The prime minister was addressing the media at a joint media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Phase two must start immediately and then phase three must also be taken into account.”
Merz is the initial head of state of a leading European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) 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 in Gaza.
After winning federal elections in February, Merz had said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a trip was not currently under consideration. Netanyahu disregards the warrants as “fabricated charges” from a “biased prosecuting office”.
Details of the Ongoing Ceasefire
During the first phase of the present ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the final 20 surviving Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has handed over all but one of 28 remains of hostages who died during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have pulled back to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.
Since 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 military actions 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, detailed a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to retreat more, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be set up under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders headed by Trump, supervising a administrative Palestinian committee to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.
The order of these actions is unclear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.
“I think it’s crucial to make sure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he asserted.
Potential Alternatives and Political Positions
Netanyahu raised the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a topic of “negotiation”, and stressed that Israel was strongly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the aim of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.
ICC Charges and Legal Cases
Netanyahu stated the primary reason he would not be able make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as fabricated by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an inquiry.
Netanyahu remarked Khan was “harming the reputation of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of deprivation and genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.
A separate court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is considering charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission determined that Israel had carried out genocide.
Asked about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the current juncture.”