First Stage of Gaza Strip Ceasefire Plan Almost Complete, States Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu has noted that the initial segment of the internationally-supported Gaza truce plan is close to completion, adding that the second phase must require the disarmament of Hamas.
Forthcoming Discussions in Washington
The Israeli prime minister mentioned he would talk about the subsequent actions later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were codified in a UN Security Council decision on 17 November.
“We’re about to conclude the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we secure the equivalent results in the next stage, and that’s something I anticipate reviewing with President Trump.”
German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu
The prime minister was talking at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “The second phase must start immediately and then the third phase must also be considered.”
Merz is the initial head of state of a significant European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.
After winning federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not currently planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “baseless allegations” from a “biased prosecuting office”.
Details of the Current Ceasefire
During the initial stage of the present ceasefire deal, Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli captives in return 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. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.
Since the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas military actions over the identical period.
Future Stages and Unclear Sequencing
Neither Trump’s suggestions, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, specified a schedule extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a technocratic Palestinian council to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.
The timeline of these actions is vague in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.
“I think it’s important to ensure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he stated.
Possible Alternatives and Political Positions
Netanyahu mentioned the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “debate”, and stressed that Israel was strongly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process desired by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.
International Criminal Court Charges and Judicial Cases
Netanyahu claimed the reason he would not be able make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as manufactured by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of shifting focus from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May pending the conclusion of an investigation.
Netanyahu remarked Khan was “damaging the standing of the ICC” with “false allegations of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.
A separate court, the international court of justice, is reviewing allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide.
Asked about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to discuss this at the moment.”