Lead
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters he believes the first phase of the UN-backed Gaza ceasefire is nearly complete and that the second phase must require Hamas to disarm. He made the comments during a joint press appearance with German chancellor Friedrich Merz in Israel, and said he will raise next steps with former U.S. president Donald Trump in Washington later this month. The remarks follow a UN Security Council resolution of 17 November that largely adopts Trump’s Gaza proposals and sets out a multi-stage transition for Gaza governance and security.
Key takeaways
- Netanyahu said the first phase of the ceasefire is ‘‘nearly finished’’ and that phase two must include Hamas disarmament and demilitarisation of Gaza.
- During phase one Hamas freed the last 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian detainees; it has returned all but one of 28 bodies of hostages killed in the conflict.
- Israeli forces have pulled back to a ceasefire line but remain in control of roughly 58% of the Gaza Strip territory.
- Since the ceasefire declared on , Israeli forces have reportedly killed more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children; three Israeli soldiers were killed by Hamas-linked attacks during the same period.
- The UN Security Council adopted resolution 2803 on , endorsing a Trump-backed plan that calls for an international stabilisation force and a technocratic Palestinian committee to run Gaza pending wider measures.
- German chancellor Friedrich Merz, the first major European leader to meet Netanyahu since ICC arrest warrants were issued in November last year, said phase two and phase three now need attention.
- Netanyahu rejected the ICC warrants as politically motivated and raised alternatives to the proposed international stabilisation force without specifying details.
Background
The ceasefire framework that Netanyahu referenced was put into UN Security Council language on 17 November, incorporating proposals presented by Donald Trump and his team. That blueprint envisions staged measures: a continued ceasefire, disarmament of Hamas, a drawdown of Israeli forces from populated areas, and the deployment of an international stabilisation force (ISF) under supervision of a proposed “board of peace.” The plan also foresees a temporary technocratic Palestinian committee handling Gaza’s day-to-day administration while longer-term arrangements are negotiated.
Political and legal dynamics around the conflict are fraught. In November of the prior year the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant; Netanyahu has dismissed the warrants and criticised the ICC’s prosecutor, Karim Khan, who has denied wrongdoing and stepped aside from some duties pending an investigation. Germany’s Merz — who won federal elections in February — met Netanyahu in Israel, becoming the first major European leader to do so since those warrants were issued; Merz has said a German state visit is not currently being discussed.
Main event
At a joint press conference with Chancellor Merz, Netanyahu framed the ceasefire process as progressing and stressed that the key test will be the second phase: the neutralisation of Hamas’s military capacity. He said he will raise those priorities with Trump in a Washington meeting scheduled for later this month. Netanyahu also mentioned “alternatives” to aspects of the UN-backed plan, notably the international stabilisation force, without providing concrete proposals.
Chancellor Merz echoed the need to press into subsequent phases of the plan, saying the international community must consider phase two now and plan for phase three. The meeting signalled a cautious reopening of high-level European-Israeli engagement despite legal tensions stemming from ICC actions. Merz did not confirm any invitation for a future German state visit by Netanyahu and said such a visit was not under consideration at this time.
Operationally, phase one included a major prisoner-and-hostage exchange: Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli hostages in return for about 2,000 Palestinians held by Israel, and transferred 27 of 28 recovered bodies. Israeli forces have largely withdrawn to a ceasefire line but retain control over approximately 58% of the territory in Gaza, reflecting an incomplete return to pre-war lines and leaving open questions about sovereignty, movement, and humanitarian access.
Analysis & implications
The demand that Hamas disarm in phase two raises practical and political verification questions. Disarmament of a non-state armed group requires clear technical steps — surrender or decommissioning of weapons caches, demilitarised zones, and independent monitoring — and an agreed timetable. The UN-backed plan leaves sequencing ambiguous: whether disarmament precedes deeper troop withdrawals or vice versa is not made explicit in resolution 2803, increasing the risk of stalemate if either side views sequencing as a security threat.
Trust deficits will shape broader implementation. Israel’s insistence on tangible disarmament stems from security concerns after years of cross-border attacks; Palestinian political actors and many Gaza residents fear that demilitarisation without durable political gains will entrench occupation. The proposed international stabilisation force (ISF) is intended as a neutral buffer, but Netanyahu’s public references to unspecified “alternatives” and his refusal to endorse a Palestinian state complicate consensus-building among regional and Western partners.
Legal and diplomatic reverberations are also significant. ICC arrest warrants and parallel cases at the International Court of Justice expose Israeli leaders to sustained legal scrutiny and shape European capitals’ risk calculations when meeting Israeli officials. Germany’s decision to receive Netanyahu demonstrates pragmatic engagement, but it may also generate political debate domestically and across the EU about balancing security cooperation with adherence to international legal processes.
Comparison & data
| Metric | Reported figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Living Israeli hostages released in phase one | 20 | Final group exchanged during phase one |
| Palestinians released by Israel | ~2,000 | Detained individuals exchanged for hostages |
| Hostage bodies returned | 27 of 28 | One body remained unrecovered at time of reporting |
| Gaza territory under Israeli control | 58% | Israeli forces withdrawn to a ceasefire line but retain control |
| Palestinian fatalities since | >360 | Includes an estimated 70 children |
| Israeli soldiers killed | 3 | Reported since the ceasefire began |
The table condenses the key operational and humanitarian figures publicised during and after phase one. These numbers frame the immediate security environment: exchanges of detainees and hostages have reduced acute hostage-related pressure, but territory control and casualty figures show the conflict’s underlying volatility. Policymakers must weigh these hard metrics when structuring verification, troop movements, and humanitarian channels for phase two and beyond.
Reactions & quotes
Officials and observers reacted cautiously to the press statements. Netanyahu framed the agreement as a step forward but stressed tougher conditions ahead; Merz urged progression through the remaining phases while stopping short of endorsing a bilateral state visit.
“We’re about to finish the first stage.”
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister
This remark came as Netanyahu described phase one accomplishments — the hostage releases and Israeli redeployments — while underscoring that the next stage must secure Hamas disarmament before further concessions.
“Phase two must come now and then phase three must also be considered.”
Friedrich Merz, German chancellor
Merz used the line to signal European interest in moving implementation forward, while avoiding a firm commitment on state visits or deeper diplomatic normalisation until legal and political questions are clarified.
“These warrants are trumped-up charges,”
Benjamin Netanyahu, on ICC prosecutor and arrest warrants
Netanyahu repeated his long-standing rejection of the ICC action; his framing links legal disputes to political narratives and will shape how European and other partners manage bilateral contact.
Unconfirmed
- The exact sequencing of disarmament, troop withdrawals and ISF deployment remains unspecified in public documents and is therefore unconfirmed.
- Netanyahu’s reference to unspecified “alternatives” to the ISF lacks detail; the nature and feasibility of any alternative arrangements are unconfirmed.
- Claims that ICC action was undertaken to distract from allegations against Karim Khan are assertions made by Netanyahu and have not been independently substantiated here.
- Any concrete timetable for phases two and three, including specific deadlines and benchmarks, has not been published and is unconfirmed.
Bottom line
The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan has delivered tangible, narrowly defined outcomes — the last living Israeli hostages were freed, a large number of Palestinian detainees were released, and forces redeployed to a ceasefire line. Yet the core challenges remain: how to verify Hamas disarmament, who will provide neutral security, and whether a political settlement can follow the security steps without new flashpoints.
Diplomatic momentum will hinge on credible verification mechanisms, clear sequencing, and buy-in from regional and international stakeholders. Legal proceedings at the ICC and ICJ add a complex layer to European and global engagement; countries will need to balance legal obligations with pragmatic steps to stabilise Gaza and address urgent humanitarian needs. Observers should watch upcoming Washington discussions between Netanyahu and Trump and subsequent diplomatic moves in Berlin and Brussels for signals on whether the next phases can be operationalised.
Sources
- The Guardian (media report summarising the press conference and developments)
- UN Security Council resolution 2803 (17 November 2025) (UN/official documentation of the endorsed ceasefire framework)
- International Criminal Court (ICC) (official — information on arrest warrants and procedural statements)
- UN reporting and independent commission findings (UN/official reporting on humanitarian impact and independent investigations)