One Year Since Sharm el Sheikh
On October 13, 2025, world leaders gathered at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheikh to back the agreement to end the war in Gaza, based on Trump's peace plan. The same day, the last 20 living hostages held by Hamas returned to Israel after more than two years in captivity.
For many Israelis, the anniversary is first of all the anniversary of that homecoming. For Washington, it is a moment to take stock of a plan that is still far from complete.
What the State Department Said
In remarks marking the anniversary, Pigott was frank about the difficulties. Rebuilding Gaza, he said, will take years, and putting the plan into practice will face major challenges.
At the same time, he said tangible progress is being made toward the plan's central goals: a demilitarized Gaza, Palestinians living free of Hamas rule, and lasting security for Israel.
Israel's Conditions at the Center
The goals named by the spokesman match the principles Israel has insisted on since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. Israel's position has been that Gaza must be demilitarized and that Hamas can have no role in governing it.
The plan, which created a Board of Peace chaired by Trump to oversee the transition, links reconstruction to those security conditions. Disarming Hamas, a terror organization that started the war, is the most difficult of them.
The Questions That Remain
Pigott's reported remarks did not set a timeline for reconstruction or for demilitarization. Open questions include how and when Hamas will be disarmed, the deployment of an international stabilization force and who will run civilian affairs in Gaza.
The answers will determine whether reconstruction can begin at scale without allowing Hamas to rebuild its military capabilities, the outcome Israel has sought to prevent.
What Happens Next
The reported remarks did not announce new steps. The next stages of the plan depend on progress on disarmament and on the international force. Both remain open issues for Washington, Israel and the mediators.
