Initial Stage of Gaza Ceasefire Framework Nearly Finished, Says Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu has commented that the first part of the United Nations-backed Gaza halt in hostilities framework is close to completion, stating that the next phase must include the demilitarization of Hamas.
Upcoming Talks in Washington
The Israeli prime minister said he would address the subsequent actions in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were codified in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.
“We are close to finish the first stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we secure the identical results in the next phase, and that’s something I anticipate addressing with President Trump.”
German Chancellor Visits Netanyahu
The prime minister was addressing the media at a shared news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Stage two must start immediately and then stage three must also be considered.”
Merz is the initial head of state of a leading European state to hold talks with 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 war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.
After securing victory in 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 at this time planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “biased prosecutor”.
Terms of the Ongoing Truce
Under the initial stage of the present ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the final 20 surviving Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees 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 Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a demarcation line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.
Since the ceasefire was put into effect on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of more than 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas attacks over the identical timeframe.
Next Steps and Unclear Timeline
Not one of Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, detailed a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to withdraw farther, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be established under the authority of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian council to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.
The timeline of these actions is unclear in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.
“I think it’s vital to ensure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their pledge which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he asserted.
Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Positions
Netanyahu brought up the possibility 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 topic of “negotiation”, and emphasized that Israel was firmly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.
International Criminal Court Warrants and Judicial Proceedings
Netanyahu claimed 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 diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May pending the conclusion of an inquiry.
Netanyahu asserted Khan was “destroying the credibility of the ICC” with “false allegations of starvation and genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.
Another court, the international court of justice, is weighing up allegations 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 informed reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the current juncture.”
