First Phase of Gaza Truce Plan Nearly Finished, States Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu has observed that the initial phase of the UN-endorsed Gaza ceasefire framework is approaching conclusion, adding that the next phase must entail the demilitarization of Hamas.
Forthcoming Talks in Washington
The Israeli prime minister mentioned he would talk about the future steps in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were formalized in a UN security council decision on 17 November.
“We’re about to complete the initial phase,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to guarantee that we attain the same objectives in the next stage, and that’s something I anticipate addressing with President Trump.”
European Leader Meets with Netanyahu
The prime minister was talking at a shared media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “The second phase must start immediately and then the third phase must also be taken into account.”
Merz is the first head of state of a major European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) released warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his former 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 stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a trip was not currently being considered. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.
Terms of the Ongoing Truce
Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 bodies of hostages who died during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, leaving them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.
Since the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of over 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas military actions over the same timeframe.
Future Stages and Ambiguous Timeline
Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which mostly supported them, detailed a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to withdraw farther, and an international stabilization force is to be established under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders chaired by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian council to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.
The timeline of these actions is ambiguous in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his comments 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 obligation which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he stated.
Potential Options and Political Positions
Netanyahu mentioned the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “negotiation”, and reiterated that Israel was adamantly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.
International Criminal Court Charges and Judicial Proceedings
Netanyahu said the reason he would not be able make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as manufactured by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of shifting focus from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but recused himself from his role in May pending the conclusion of an investigation.
Netanyahu remarked Khan was “destroying the reputation of the ICC” with “false charges of deprivation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised official”.
Another tribunal, the international court of justice, is weighing up charges that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry determined that Israel had carried out genocide.
Questioned about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the present time.”
