Violent clashes erupted across Israel on Tuesday as thousands of protesters took to the streets in response to former US President Donald Trump's unexpected intervention in the Gaza conflict. The most intense confrontations occurred in Tel Aviv, where demonstrators battled riot police in scenes reminiscent of the most turbulent periods in the nation's history.
Trump's Controversial Proposal Ignites Fury
The political firestorm was triggered by Trump's announcement of what he termed a "definitive solution" to the ongoing Gaza crisis. While details remain scarce, early reports suggest the plan involves significant territorial concessions that have alarmed both Israeli hardliners and Palestinian representatives.
In Tel Aviv's central Rabin Square, protesters could be heard chanting "No surrender to terrorism" and "Trump stay out," as smoke from flares and tear gas filled the evening air. Police reported multiple arrests and minor injuries among both officers and demonstrators.
Government Response and Divided Reactions
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office issued a carefully worded statement acknowledging Trump's proposal while emphasising that "any final agreement must guarantee Israel's security interests." However, the measured response did little to calm public anger.
Meanwhile, Hamas officials in Gaza dismissed Trump's plan as "another American fantasy that ignores Palestinian rights," though some factions appeared cautiously interested in the proposed framework.
International Community Watches Nervously
The European Union and several Arab nations have expressed concern about the timing and content of Trump's proposal. A senior EU diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that "uncoordinated interventions risk destabilising an already volatile situation."
Security analysts warn that the protests could spread to other Israeli cities and potentially trigger responses from militant groups in Gaza and the West Bank. The Israeli Defence Forces have reportedly been placed on heightened alert along the Gaza border.
As night fell on Tel Aviv, the sounds of sirens and shouting protesters continued, painting a stark picture of a nation deeply divided over its future direction and the role outside powers should play in determining it.
