Camille Naredo

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference with Hungary's Prime Minister (unseen) after bilateral talks on April 3, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. Attila Kisbendek, AFP/File

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference with Hungary's Prime Minister (unseen) after bilateral talks on April 3, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Hungary in defiance of the International Criminal Court (ICC)'s arrest warrant against him over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Hungary has long-standing ties with Israel, and they been further bolstered up since the start of the war in Gaza, sparked by the Palestinian militant group Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023. (Photo by Attila KISBENEDEK / AFP)

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ISRAEL

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765121684883AFP__20250403__38YG8FN__v1__Preview__HungaryIsraelPoliticsDiplomacyConflict.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference with Hungary&#x27;s Prime Minister (unseen) after bilateral talks on April 3, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. Attila Kisbendek, AFP/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference with Hungary&#x27;s Prime Minister (unseen) after bilateral talks on April 3, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. <em>Attila Kisbendek, AFP/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday he expected the second phase of the US-sponsored ceasefire plan for Gaza to begin soon, and said he would meet President Donald Trump this month.</p><p>The truce, in effect since October 10, has halted the war that began after Hamas&#x27;s deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.</p><p>Under the terms of the ceasefire that entered into force on October 10, Palestinian militants committed to releasing the remaining 47 living and dead captives seized on their October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.</p><p>All of the hostages have so far been released except for the body of an Israeli police officer.</p><p>The second stage of the Gaza ceasefire plan concerns disarming Hamas, establishing a transitional authority and deploying an international stabilization force.</p><p>Speaking after meeting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said: &quot;We very shortly expect to move into the second phase, which is more difficult.&quot;</p><p>Netanyahu also said he would meet Trump later in December to discuss &quot;opportunities for peace&quot; in the region.</p><p>The meeting is expected to take place in Washington after the premier&#x27;s office said Trump invited Netanyahu to the White House during a phone call on Monday.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/11/18/israel-hails-trump-gaza-plan-after-un-security-council-vote-1858">READ: Israel hails Trump Gaza plan after UN Security Council vote</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/11/19/is-israel-pushing-palestinians-to-leave-gaza-voluntarily-1302">READ: Is Israel pushing Palestinians to leave Gaza &#x27;voluntarily?&#x27;</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>- Germany reaffirms support -</strong></div><p>The German leader, who took power in May this year, has repeatedly criticized Israel&#x27;s relentless military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.</p><p>The war was sparked by the October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.</p><p>Merz urged the implementation of the plan&#x27;s next steps, adding Germany was providing aid to Gaza and would contribute to the reconstruction efforts.</p><p>He flew into Israel the day before for his first trip to the country since traditionally solid ties between the two nations were shaken by the Gaza war.</p><p>Merz reaffirmed Berlin&#x27;s support for Israel during his trip that included a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem.</p><p>&quot;Germany must stand up for the existence and security of Israel,&quot; Merz said, after acknowledging his country&#x27;s &quot;enduring historical responsibility&quot; for the mass extermination of Jews during the Second World War.</p><p>During the joint press conference with Netanyahu, Merz said criticism of Israel was &quot;possible and sometimes perhaps even necessary&quot;.</p><p>&quot;The relationship between Germany and Israel can withstand that. But criticism of the policies of the Israeli government must not be misused as a pretext for antisemitism,&quot; he added.</p><p>Merz also underscored German support for a two-state solution.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/11/18/un-security-council-votes-for-international-force-for-gaza-0811">READ: UN Security Council votes for international force for Gaza</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>- ICC warrant -</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/au7IfM1c8gE?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Germany had in August moved to restrict German sales of weapons for use in Gaza but has since lifted those export restrictions following the ceasefire.</p><p>Despite the truce, more than 360 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to local health authorities, as well as three Israeli soldiers.</p><p>Although Merz&#x27;s public criticism of Israel was unusual for a German leader, it was measured by international standards.</p><p>Nevertheless, Merz said Sunday he did not discuss the possibility of Netanyahu&#x27;s visit to Germany with the prime minister.</p><p>The Israeli leader faces an arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza from the International Criminal Court (ICC).</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/5/20/war-crimes-prosecutor-seeks-arrest-of-israeli-and-hamas-leaders-including-netanyahu-722">READ: War crimes prosecutor seeks arrest of Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Netanyahu</a></div><p>&quot;I am not going there because of an ICC decision,&quot; Netanyahu said. Merz this year vowed to invite the Israeli leader and told him he would not be arrested.</p><p>Past Israel-Germany tensions have not disrupted key military ties.</p><p>Germany put into operation the first phase of the Israeli-made Arrow missile defense shield this week.</p><p>The $4.5-billion deal was reportedly the largest arms export agreement in Israeli history.</p>

<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday he expected the second phase of the US-sponsored ceasefire plan for Gaza to begin soon, and said he would meet President Donald Trump this month.</p>

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday he expected the second phase of the US-sponsored ceasefire plan for Gaza to begin soon, and said he would meet President Donald Trump this month.

Netanyahu expects to move to Gaza truce second phase soon

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Netanyahu expects to move to Gaza truce second phase soon

Peter WUETHERICH and Gianluca PACCHIANI,

Agence France-Presse

Published December 08, 2025 12:00 AM PHT

Read More:

Israel

Gaza

Hamas

Palestine

Israel-Hamas War

Benjamin Netanyahu

Donald Trump

ceasefire

Germany

Friedrich Merz

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