Former Israeli Navy commander Eliezer “Cheney” Marom said on Sunday that growing international pressure is driving the emerging agreement to end the war, with both Hamas and Israel facing mounting demands from key global actors.
“There are two vectors here,” Marom told 103FM. “One is the United States, which is working hard on Israel and its Arab partners. The second is the Islamist-Arab vector, stretching from Indonesia to Turkey.”
Marom identified Turkey as a pivotal player in the current negotiations.
“Turkey is now the most important player entering the picture, and it is one of the leading countries of the Muslim Brotherhood,” he said. “I think there’s a good chance Hamas will indeed have to say yes, because Turkey has major interests in the United States, and it wants to realize them.”
According to Marom, pressure from Turkey and other Muslim countries could ultimately leave Hamas with little room to reject the proposal.
“When you put it all together, it will be difficult for Hamas this time to say ‘no’ to the cluster of countries telling them, ‘That’s enough. We’ll support you, but we also have our own interests.’”
He noted that both sides in the conflict are seeking symbolic victories.
“Hamas, like Israel, is looking for an image of victory,” he said. “In the end, Hamas will have to explain to its people and supporters why it agreed to sign this deal—if it agrees to sign at all.”
Marom added that Hamas continues to enjoy significant support across Palestinian territories.
“If elections were held today in the West Bank, about 70% would vote for it, and even in Gaza, it still has many supporters.”
On the issue of arms sales, he said he was not concerned by the prospect of advanced weapons being delivered to regional powers.
“I’m less alarmed by the shipment of F-35 aircraft to Turkey or Qatar,” he said.
He criticized Israel’s current diplomatic standing and the toll the war has taken on its international support.
'We’re not in a good position internationally'
“Throughout the two years of the war, we maneuvered ourselves into a situation where we’re not in a good position internationally. Right now, we’re hanging by one branch—one country that supports us, and that’s the United States.”
Marom said the country’s political dependence on Washington has played a role in pushing the current deal forward.
“That’s Trump’s strength,” he said. “It gives him the ability to impose the deal on Israel. He’s saying, ‘If you don’t go for the deal now, I might withdraw my support for you.’”