Initial Stage of Gaza Ceasefire Plan Almost Complete, States Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the first segment of the UN-endorsed Gaza truce framework is approaching conclusion, and added that the second stage must include the disarmament of Hamas.
Upcoming Discussions in Washington
The Israeli premier stated he would address the subsequent actions in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN Security Council resolution on 17 November.
“We’re about to complete the first phase,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to guarantee that we achieve the same objectives in the next phase, and that’s something I look forward to reviewing with President Trump.”
German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu
The prime minister was talking at a shared media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “The second phase must begin now and then the third phase must also be taken into account.”
Merz is the initial leader of a leading European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court delivered 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 said he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not currently being considered. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “baseless charges” from a “biased prosecutor”.
Terms of the Ongoing Truce
Under the initial stage of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the last 20 surviving Israeli captives in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages who died during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have pulled back to a demarcation line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.
Following the ceasefire was put into effect 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 killed in Hamas military actions over the same timeframe.
Future Stages and Ambiguous Sequencing
Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, set out a timetable transitioning 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 established under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian committee to run daily administration of Gaza.
The timeline of these steps is vague 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 adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their obligation which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarise,” he stated.
Possible Options and Political Positions
Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a topic of “discussion”, and reiterated that Israel was strongly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process supported by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.
ICC Charges and Judicial Cases
Netanyahu claimed the primary 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 chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of shifting focus from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any wrongdoing, but recused himself from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an investigation.
Netanyahu said Khan was “harming the standing of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of deprivation and genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.
Another court, the international court of justice, is weighing up charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had carried out genocide.
Questioned about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to consider this at the present time.”