First Stage of Gaza Strip Ceasefire Framework Almost Finished, States Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu has observed that the opening phase of the United Nations-backed Gaza halt in hostilities framework is approaching completion, and added that the subsequent phase must involve the disarmament of Hamas.
Upcoming Talks in Washington
The Israeli premier mentioned he would discuss the next steps in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza plans were formalized in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.
“We’re about to conclude the first stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to make sure that we attain the identical outcomes in the next phase, and that’s something I am eager to reviewing with President Trump.”
European Leader Visits Netanyahu
The prime minister was speaking at a joint press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Stage two must start immediately and then stage three must also be considered.”
Merz is the initial leader of a major European state to meet Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered warrants for arrest for the Israeli prime minister and his ex- defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
After winning federal elections in February, Merz had stated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but noted on Sunday a trip was not currently planned. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “baseless charges” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.
Details of the Current Truce
Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire deal, Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. Concurrently, Israeli forces have pulled back to a demarcation line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.
Following the ceasefire was put into effect on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed over 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been fatally wounded in Hamas military actions over the identical period.
Next Steps and Unclear Sequencing
Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, specified a timetable extending the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to pull back further, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian committee to run day-to-day administration of Gaza.
The order of these steps is vague in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his comments on Sunday, Netanyahu focused on Hamas disarmament.
“I think it’s vital to make sure that Hamas abides not only with the ceasefire, but also with their obligation which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he said.
Possible Alternatives and Political Positions
Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without explaining what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “discussion”, and emphasized that Israel was adamantly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the vast majority of UN member states.
International Criminal Court Charges and Judicial Proceedings
Netanyahu stated the reason he would not be able to make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as invented by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of shifting focus from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped aside from his role in May pending the outcome of an investigation.
Netanyahu remarked Khan was “destroying the reputation of the ICC” with “trumped-up allegations of deprivation and genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.
Another tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is weighing up allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN autonomous investigative commission determined that Israel had committed genocide.
Asked about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the moment.”
