A huge crowd of anti-Israel protesters clashed with police outside the Philadelphia venue hosting the Trump-Harris presidential debate Tuesday night.
Demonstrators wearing keffiyehs pushed against officers in riot gear trying to hold back the unruly crowd as Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump squared off on the issue of the Israel-Hamas war inside the National Constitution Center.
Organizers said at least three people were detained by police when about 100 officers tried to disperse the crowd, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Police could not immediately confirm a number of arrests, according to the local newspaper.
Officers used bikes to push the crowds back and cuffed a protester wearing a bedazzled mask with black horns who had ignited a red flare, according to video filmed by Freedom News.
The crowd pushed for a ceasefire while protesters from other groups — including anti-abortion, anti-Trump and anti-Project 2025 demonstrators as well as animal rights activists — also attempted to make their voices heard earlier in the evening.
Only the anti-Israel protesters were left when the violent shift with officers occurred.
Philadelphia police did not immediately respond to a Post inquiry.
Inside the debate venue, Trump claimed Harris “hates Israel” and that the war “would have never happened” if he was still president.
Harris promised that she will “always give Israel the ability to defend itself, in particular, as it relates to Iran, but we must have a two-state solution, where we can rebuild Gaza, where the Palestinians have security.”
