Trump deploys more troops to Los Angeles as protests intensify
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a security meeting on Wednesday following his phone call with US President Donald Trump.
Israeli media says the call between Trump and Netanyahu lasted around 40 minutes, with the pair discussing a wide range of topics, from the war on Gaza to developments in the Iran nuclear deal.
Asked about his call with Netanyahu, Trump didn't offer much detail, but insisted that the call with the Israeli premier went well.
"Very well. Yeah, we discussed a lot of things, and it went very well. Very smooth. We'll see what happens. You know, we're trying to do something with a country we just spoke about, Iran,' said Trump.
Trump however revealed that negotiations appear to be stagnant due to the Iranians being 'good negotiators'. He also again warned that a violent US approach to Tehran is not off the table.
'Sometimes they can be too tough. That's the problem. So, we are trying to make a deal so that there's no destruction and death. And we've told them that, and I've told them that, and I hope that's the way it works out. But it might not work out that way."
Joining the security meeting with Netanyahu – according to Israeli media – are Defence Minister Israel Katz, Shas party chairperson Aryeh Deri and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
Far-right figures who will also reportedly be taking part in the meeting include National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Ben Gvir and Smotrich are not typically included in such high-level meetings.
The meeting comes as Tehran is expected to respond to Washington's proposal for a nuclear deal. The Iranian response is expected to arrive in the form of a counter to the US proposal.
Washington has reportedly proposed to allow Tehran to continue enriching uranium, but at low levels and for a limited time period. This will then be halted when a consortium is established for the enrichment of uranium for Iran and other countries outside of Iranian territory.
Tehran is expected to reject this proposal, with rumours emerging that Iranian officials will not accept a deal in which they're told what to do on their own territory.
US President Donald Trump has deployed another 2,100 National Guard members and 700 US Marines, in what the authorities have dubbed Task Force 51 meant to "provide continuous coverage of the area" as unrest in Los Angeles continued into its fourth day.
Tensions between Washington and California officials have grown as demonstrators took to the streets to protest a series of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests mostly targeting migrant workers in Los Angeles.
The initially peaceful protests turned violent after heightened tensions, leading law enforcement to use tear gas and rubber bullets and shutting down the centre of Los Angeles as an "unlawful assembly area".
Trump has since deployed some 2,000 US National Guard troops to maintain order against what he said were 'violent people'.
Late on Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was informed further National Guard members were on their way.
Newsom calls the presence of troops on the streets of Los Angeles both 'illegal and immoral."
In a post on X, he said the activation of US Marines in Los Angeles was a "deranged fantasy," labelling Trump as a "dictatorial president". "This is un-American," Newsom added.
Trump shot back, saying that the city would have been 'completely obliterated' if he had not sent National Guard members.
"I promise you they will be hit harder than they have ever been hit before," he said in a post on his own platform, Truth Social.
'Rescind the order. Return control to California,' Newsom demanded in a post on the social media platform X.
This appears to be the first time in decades that a state's National Guard was activated without a request from its governor.
Newsom, speaking to local media, announced that his state will sue the Trump administration to roll back the National Guard deployment.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that the state intends to pursue a restraining order "to set aside the president's unlawful action federalising the California National Guard." He added that there was neither a migrant "invasion" nor a rebellion to warrant the takeover.
Bonta said the lawsuit became necessary once Trump escalated the number of troops, leading to growing unrest.
Trump and his "border czar" Tom Holman traded taunts with Newsom about the possibility of arresting the governor if he interfered with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
'I would do it if I were Tom. I think it's great,' Trump said.
Firing back, Newsom responded in a post on X saying 'The president of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America.'
On Monday, a large crowd gathered in a park opposite Los Angeles City Hall to demonstrate against the arrest of a prominent labour leader. Their placards criticised Trump and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding the arrest of David Huerta on Friday.
Various union leaders from across California led the crowds in chants of calling for his release. Huerta was subsequently released on a $50,000 (€43,777) bond.
Residents say the scent of smoke and fire hung in the air, and piles of ash littered the streets of Los Angeles from the burnt vehicles that were ignited during the protests.
ICE officials stated that they are actively enforcing immigration laws and seeking to deport immigrants who have criminal convictions. Additionally, they expressed their preparedness to apprehend protesters who violate the law or obstruct their operations.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed her concerns during an interview, stating that an increase in federal immigration raids could lead to "pandemonium."
She also added that protesters are ready to react swiftly and continue their demonstrations if they see ICE forces in action.
A convoy of buses and private cars departed from Tunisia's capital on Monday headed to Gaza as part of efforts to spotlight Israel's blockade on humanitarian aid to the territory, as Israeli authorities stopped a high-profile flotilla from landing there.
The overland effort, organised independently but moved up to coincide with the flotilla, is made up of activists, lawyers and medical professionals from North Africa.
It plans to traverse Tunisia, Libya and Egypt before reaching Rafah, the border crossing with Egypt that has remained largely closed since Israel's military took control of the Gaza side in May 2024.
The Tunisian civil society groups behind the convoy said their aim is to demand "the immediate lifting of the unjust siege on the strip."
They asserted that Arab governments haven't pushed enough to end the 20-month war between Israel and Hamas.
After an almost three-month blockade of Gaza aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing in some basic aid last month.
Experts have warned of famine in the territory of over 2 million people unless the blockade is lifted and Israel ends its military offensive.
The convoy set off as the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an aid ship that set sail from Sicily earlier this month, was seized by Israeli forces in what activists said were international waters.
Those aboard, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, were detained and will be deported home.
The overland convoy drew widespread attention in Tunisia and Algeria, where it began on Sunday, with some people waving Palestinian flags and chanting in support of the people of Gaza.
"This convoy speaks directly to our people in Gaza and says, 'You are not alone. We share your pain and suffering," Yahia Sarri, one of the convoy's Algerian organisers, wrote on social media.
The North African activists do not expect their convoy to be allowed into Gaza.
Regardless, it provides "a message of challenge and will," said Saher al-Masri, a Tunis-based Palestinian activist.
Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.
Israel says the blockade is needed to prevent Hamas from importing arms, while critics say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's population.
The convoy plans to gather supporters in towns south of Tunis before crossing into Libya, where clashes between rival militias have turned deadlier in recent months.
Organisers said they planned the land crossings with relevant authorities leading up to the convoy's departure.
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