Initial Stage of Gaza Strip Truce Framework Almost Finished, States Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the initial segment of the United Nations-backed Gaza truce proposal is close to finalization, noting that the second stage must require the demilitarization of Hamas.
Upcoming Talks in Washington
The Israeli premier stated he would discuss the next steps later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN security council decision on 17 November.
“We’re about to complete the first stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to guarantee that we achieve the identical objectives in the next stage, and that’s something I anticipate reviewing with President Trump.”
European Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu
The prime minister was talking at a shared press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who commented: “Stage two must start immediately and then phase three must also be taken into account.”
Merz is the first leader of a leading European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) released 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 allegations in Gaza.
After winning federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would invite Netanyahu to Germany regardless of the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not presently planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “trumped-up allegations” from a “biased prosecutor”.
Details of the Ongoing Truce
During the initial stage of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the final 20 living Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages who died during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to a truce line, resulting in them in control of 58% of the Gaza Strip.
Since 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 killed in Hamas military actions over the same period.
Next Steps and Ambiguous Sequencing
Not one of Trump’s suggestions, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, detailed a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is required to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to retreat more, and an international stabilization force is to be created under the control of a “board of peace” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian committee to run daily governance of Gaza.
The order of these steps is vague in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his statements on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed Hamas disarmament.
“I think it’s crucial to ensure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their pledge which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he said.
Potential Alternatives and Diplomatic Stances
Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of “alternatives” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not exclude Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing it as a topic of “negotiation”, and stressed that Israel was firmly against the creation of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.
International Criminal Court Charges and Legal Cases
Netanyahu stated the primary reason he would not be able make a return visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he characterized as fabricated by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of diverting attention from allegations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, but stepped aside from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an investigation.
Netanyahu remarked Khan was “damaging the credibility of the ICC” with “unfounded allegations of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “compromised prosecutor”.
Another court, the international court of justice, is weighing up allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent 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 discuss this at the moment.”
