After more than two years of brutal fighting in Gaza, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have begun the “first phase” of a peace plan that could finally free long-suffering hostages.
On Truth Social, Trump wrote: “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly!”
Trump is trying to bring order abroad and at home. His enemies are trying to keep the disorder alive.
He added: “This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”
If hostages are released as early as Sunday, as Trump predicts, it would mark a major breakthrough for Middle East stability — and for his presidency. But it also raises an uncomfortable question: What happens here at home?
From peace abroad to chaos in America
When the Gaza war began two years ago, protests erupted across the United States. Many of those demonstrations, billed as calls for “peace,” quickly devolved into violent riots. Jewish Americans and police officers were assaulted. Property was destroyed. The protests became less about peace and more about rage.
So it shouldn’t surprise anyone that even Trump’s announcement of a potential peace deal triggered more unrest.
Just hours after his statement, hundreds of demonstrators flooded Boston Common for a pro-Palestinian rally that turned violent quickly. Police said the mob blocked traffic and attacked officers who tried to clear the streets.
“When officers attempted to move the group to the sidewalk to allow emergency vehicles to pass, protesters surrounded police cruisers, kicked vehicle doors, and resisted dispersal efforts,” the Boston Police Department reported. “Several officers were assaulted during this period, including one struck in the face. Protesters also ignited smoke devices and flares, further endangering officers and bystanders.”
Thirteen people were arrested. Four officers were injured.
The wider pattern of defiance
This violence echoes what’s happening in other cities like Chicago and Portland, where anti-ICE protesters have targeted federal officers. To restore order, Trump has authorized National Guard deployments in several hot spots — moves that have sparked fierce pushback from Democrat governors and mayors.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have ordered local police not to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Their defiance has grown so extreme that Trump recently suggested their obstruction may warrant arrest.
A confrontational presidency
Since returning to office, Trump has pursued an aggressive agenda at home and abroad: expelling violent illegal aliens, curbing lawlessness in major cities, and now, moving toward peace in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
Yet his critics respond with fury — often literally. They claim he’s a threat to democracy, even as they assault police and terrorize neighborhoods in the name of “justice.”
RELATED: Hamas agrees to Trump Gaza deal, plans to release all Israeli hostages
Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Have whatever opinion you want about Trump; it’s a free country. But a protest that ends with bloodied officers and burning streets isn’t a statement — it’s a tantrum.
The real test of peace
Time will tell whether the Gaza ceasefire holds or whether protests at home will fade. But the pattern is clear: Whenever Trump achieves stability, the same voices that demand peace erupt in chaos.
Trump is trying to bring order abroad and at home. They’re trying to keep the disorder alive.
You don’t have to like him. But you can’t pretend not to see the difference.
Opinion & analysis, Opinion, Trump gaza, Trump israel, Israel, Gaza, Israel gaza ceasefire, Peace in the middle east, Israel hamas war, Hamas, Oct 7, October 7, October 7 attacks, Hostages