🔗 Share this article First Stage of Gaza Strip Ceasefire Framework Nearly Finished, States Netanyahu Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that the primary segment of the internationally-supported Gaza ceasefire proposal is approaching conclusion, and added that the second phase must entail the disarmament of Hamas. Forthcoming Discussions in Washington The Israeli leader mentioned he would discuss the following stages in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza initiatives were formalized in a UN security council resolution on 17 November. “We are nearing complete the first stage,” Netanyahu remarked. “But we have to make sure that we attain the same outcomes in the next stage, and that’s something I anticipate discussing with President Trump.” European Leader Visits Netanyahu The prime minister was talking at a joint news conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “The second phase must begin now 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 issued warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not presently under consideration. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”. Details of the Ongoing Ceasefire During the initial stage of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the final 20 surviving Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has handed over 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 At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip. Following the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of over 360 Palestinians, including an approximate 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas attacks over the identical timeframe. Next Steps and Unclear Sequencing Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, specified a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a lasting peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are meant to withdraw farther, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be set up under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian committee to run daily governance of Gaza. The order of these actions is vague in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament. “I think it’s crucial to make sure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their pledge which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he asserted. Possible Options and Political Stances Netanyahu brought up the prospects of “alternatives” to the ISF, without clarifying what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “discussion”, and emphasized that Israel was adamantly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states. ICC Warrants and Judicial Proceedings Netanyahu claimed the reason he would not be able to make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as manufactured by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any misconduct, but stepped aside from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an investigation. Netanyahu remarked Khan was “harming the standing of the ICC” with “false allegations of starvation and genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”. Another court, the international court of justice, is considering allegations that Israel has perpetrated genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission concluded that Israel had carried out genocide. Questioned about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to discuss this at the moment.”