US President Donald Trump’s 21-point plan to end the war in Gaza returns Israel to the conditions it was in when it disengaged from the enclave 20 years ago, leaving Hamas to simply seize power all over again, Maj.-Gen. (res.) Eliezer “Cheney” Marom, former commander of the Israel Navy, said in a Sunday interview on 103FM.
Trump met with Arab leaders during the United Nations General Assembly in New York and presented the plan aimed at achieving future peace in the Middle East. He is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to further discuss the proposal.
In the interview, Marom offered his analysis of Trump’s initiative and the broader military and political context.
“This entire plan is a throwback to 2005,” he said. “We’re looking at a scenario where the Gaza Strip would be governed by technocrats. It’s essentially a disguise for reinstating the Palestinian Authority. Trump is attempting to rebuild a framework in which the Palestinian Authority resumes control over Gaza.”
He warned that Hamas remains a dominant force.
Hamas will 'start shooting their replacements'
“Hamas is pretending to step back, but in a few months they’ll start shooting their replacements in the knees and throw them off the tallest remaining buildings in Gaza,” he said. “They haven’t changed. They’re Muslim, Arab, and carry a strong sense of revenge. We will return to a confrontation in Gaza. Hamas will not allow itself to be disarmed. Nothing has changed.”
On the issue of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, Marom said, “If we can bring back the hostages, that would be a major achievement. I would sign on that with my eyes closed.”
However, he remained skeptical about the broader strategic goals. “With our current method, we won’t achieve a different outcome in the Gaza Strip. Hamas does not surrender. It won’t raise a white flag,” he said.
Referring to Trump’s plan, he added, “As I understand it, the plan doesn’t include the deportation of Hamas members. No one is being forced to leave the Strip. The emigration option is closed. If we can get the hostages back – let’s get them back.”
“In our current situation, we can’t tell the Americans ‘no.’ We’ve exhausted every possible maneuver,” Marom said.
He outlined what he described as the three pillars of warfare: “Military – in which we performed reasonably well; Legal and humanitarian – where we utterly failed, especially on the humanitarian front; and International – where our tank of legitimacy has nearly run dry.”
He emphasized Israel’s reliance on US backing. “We’re running on reserves – and those reserves depend on one man sitting in the White House,” he said, describing Trump as unpredictable.
“As you know, he’s not someone with stable opinions. He changes them all the time depending on the situation.”
“We’ve been at war for two years. Who would have believed Israel would maintain legitimacy for such a prolonged campaign without being stopped?” he asked. “In other wars, it was a matter of days or weeks.”
Nevertheless, he warned that relying on one foreign leader is unsustainable. “We depend on Trump – and the State of Israel cannot afford to depend on a single individual. It’s not reasonable.”
Marom also addressed the controversial loudspeaker deployment near the Gaza border during Netanyahu’s speech to the UN General Assembly. “It was a foolish incident like no other,” he said. “Those loudspeakers were just a media gimmick. There’s no refusing such an order – it’s not blatantly illegal, nor does it carry a black flag.”
He noted the prime minister’s office denied ordering the speakers to be placed in Gaza.
“I heard those claiming it endangered soldiers – I think it was a reasonable order. If I understand correctly, the PMO says it never instructed that loudspeakers be deployed into the Strip.”
He added, “Putting up loudspeakers on the border so that Netanyahu’s speech could be heard might sound foolish, but it doesn’t rise to the level of a blatantly illegal order.”
“If I were a commander in the army, I would’ve asked for it in writing, just as the chief of staff did,” he said. “Either way, no one would have heard those speakers. It was a gimmick – just like the signs at the UN. It meant nothing. The army misunderstood the directive from the PMO.”
Looking ahead to the end of the Gaza war, Marom said the hostages must be the top priority. “If we can get all the hostages back, we can end the war tomorrow morning,” he said. “That’s not my opinion – that’s what the chief of staff says.”
He expressed full confidence in Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir. “I trust this chief of staff with my eyes closed. He has proven he has a backbone. He knows exactly what he’s doing.”
“During the war, the government suddenly shifted direction. The goal is no longer to defeat Hamas militarily – we’ve already done that. The goal now is to force its surrender,” Marom explained. “To raise a white flag. But anyone who understands jihadist Islamist organizations knows that’s not realistic.”
“In the end, Netanyahu has no choice,” he added. “If Trump says ‘it’s over,’ then it’s over. That’s the end of it.”