Star of David goes LGBTQI+: Tens of thousands of people take part in Pride in Tel Aviv.Image: keystone
June 12, 2026, 3:52 p.mJune 12, 2026, 3:52 p.m
Tens of thousands of people came to the first Pride parade in the Israeli coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv in two years. According to Israeli broadcaster N12, more than 100,000 people took part in the parade with floats.
In the afternoon they demonstrated on the seafront in Tel Aviv for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer people (LGBTQ) and waved rainbow flags. Musicians played concerts along the promenade, including Yuval Raphael, who came second in last year’s Eurovision Song Contest thanks to an overwhelming audience vote.
Two Pride participants kiss. Tel Aviv Pride was canceled at the last minute last year.Image: keystone
The liberal coastal metropolis is considered a stronghold of the scene in Israel and the LGBTQ capital of the Middle East. The Pride parade has taken place in Tel Aviv every year since 1998.
Last year, the world-famous parade was canceled just a few hours before it began due to the war in Iran. The event was also canceled in 2024 due to the Gaza war and the hostage crisis. At that time, there was instead a mourning ceremony in memory of the victims of the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023 in Israel.
Police should take action against government criticism
Media reported that some of this year’s participants in the parade with many floats also wore shirts with slogans directed against the right-wing extremist Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The police therefore denied a woman access to the parade.
Rainbow fans yes, other political messages no. Criticism against the right-wing extremist government of Benjamin Netanyahu was not accepted.Image: keystone
In several cases, police also reportedly prevented participants from displaying signs with anti-government messages. Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is the most right-wing government in Israel’s history. Several ministers are openly homophobic.
Footage of the parade showed a participant displaying a Lebanese flag. Israel is officially hostile to its neighboring country, but there are currently talks between representatives of the governments of both countries. At the same time, Israel is waging war against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia and has troops in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese government and the country’s army are not parties to the conflict.
In 2015, a strictly religious Jew stabbed a 16-year-old to death at the Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem. A court later sentenced the murderer to life in prison plus 31 years. (sda/dpa)
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