Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he expects the Gaza ceasefire plan to move into its second phase “very shortly.” Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Netanyahu said the two discussed how to “bring an end to the Hamas rule in Gaza” and outlined a phased approach that, he cautioned, will become “more difficult” as it advances.
He also said he would meet with U.S. President Donald Trump later this month to discuss “opportunities for peace” and regional security arrangements linked to the plan.
Netanyahu said the first phase is complete and signaled that the follow-on steps could start as soon as the end of the month.
He noted that the remains of Ran Gvili, a 24-year-old Israeli police officer killed on Oct. 7, 2023 and taken into Gaza, have not yet been returned, underscoring unresolved humanitarian and accountability issues that persist despite the lull in fighting.
What Netanyahu said is coming next
Netanyahu described the coming stage as focused on the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza, calling it “no less daunting” than the initial phase that paused hostilities and facilitated exchanges.
He said a third phase would aim to “deradicalize Gaza,” and he argued that post-conflict transformations have been achieved elsewhere and can be pursued in Gaza as part of a broader international effort.
The prime minister added that the timeline for entering phase two depends on security conditions and on coordination with partners shaping the on-the-ground architecture. He emphasized that implementation will require clarity on who secures critical sites, how weapons are collected or destroyed, and how humanitarian corridors function while those tasks are underway.
How the ceasefire plan is structured
According to Israeli, U.S. and regional officials, the first phase of the U.S.-backed plan began Oct. 10, halting fighting and enabling exchanges of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. The second phase envisions deploying an international security force in Gaza alongside other measures that have not yet begun.
Discussions continue over the force’s role, composition and rules of engagement, including how it would coordinate with Israeli forces and local civil administration.
A third phase would target deradicalization through education, governance and security reforms. Longer term, the plan includes a potential “pathway” to Palestinian political independence, contingent on security benchmarks and institutional changes.
Arab and Western officials told reporters last week that an international body to oversee the ceasefire, expected to be led by President Trump, is slated for appointment by year’s end. Final decisions on that body’s authorities and reporting lines are still being negotiated.
U.S. and regional diplomacy
Netanyahu said he will travel to meet President Trump later this month. The agenda is expected to include phase-two timing, the shape of the international force, and mechanisms for deterring renewed rocket fire or cross-border raids as security responsibilities shift. U.S. officials are also in contact with European and Arab partners about financing, training and logistics to stand up the mission once authorized.
Regional interlocutors continued to press for clearer commitments. Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said at a conference in Doha that mediators led by the United States are working “to force the way forward” to the second phase to cement the deal.
He cautioned that what has been achieved so far is a pause, not a completed ceasefire, and argued that a full ceasefire requires a withdrawal of Israeli forces, restoration of movement for civilians and stability on the ground.
