National striker Stewart ready to leave Israel if war intensifies

ISRAEL-BASED national striker Trivante Stewart said he has not been affected by the current conflict between Israel and Iran as the area where he currently resides is relatively quiet.

Tensions escalated last Saturday after Iran retaliated following joint attacks by Israel and the United States.

Stewart, who has been playing in Israel's top league for Maccabi Haifa since the 2025 season, said that while he has heard explosions, the situation around him is not out of control. Haifa is the third largest city in Israel. It is located on the country's northwestern Mediterranean coastline.

"Things are okay so far where I am in Israel because it is kind of stable and not out of hand and there is nothing to go crazy about at this moment," said Stewart. "I have heard a couple of bombings around me, but nothing crazy as yet like any buildings damaged or things like that."

The 25-year-old Stewart, who hails from the inner-city community of Homestead in Spanish Town, noted that his girlfriend, who is with him in Israel, is more concerned about the situation than he is.

"I am not feeling worried about this situation because I knew what I was going into before I even came here. I have my girlfriend over here with me at the moment and she is feeling a bit different from me about the whole situation, she is basically more worried than me right now," he noted.

Stewart also pointed out that his upbringing has shaped his perspective on the unrest.

"I am not really scared about the situation because I am person who grew in the ghetto so I am used to hearing gunshots but the difference is that these are missiles being fired and as a person that believes in the Lord and I am just hoping for the best and the faster it ends, is the better for me," he said.

However, Stewart made it clear that if the conflict continues and an opportunity presents itself, he would prefer to leave.

"If this continues, then once I get the opportunity to leave then I am going to leave because I would rather be in a safer place (at my house in Jamaica)," Stewart stated.

"At the moment the situation maybe stable but in another few days things can change very quickly so I am keeping my ears close to the ground at the moment. It is, however, kind of difficult to leave because from the moment the war started the airports over here were locked down," he said.

Stewart, who has made four appearances for the Jamaica national senior football team, has yet to score a goal for the country but has scored nine goals in 22 games for Maccabi Haifa.