The pride flags displayed across Tel Aviv look different this year in the wake of the war and prolonged captivity of hostages in Gaza by Hamas. The yellow stripe in the pride flag has been significantly widened as a show of solidarity with the hostages in Gaza and their families.
"A month ago, we met with the municipality with the understanding that we can't ignore reality and celebrate as usual," says Nadav Rudaeff, a LGBTQ+ activist and the son of the late Lior Rudaeff, who was murdered on October 7 and his body abducted to Gaza.
"Given the situation, it was decided that there would not be a festive parade, but instead a rally to celebrate pride and talk about hope. Even the flag was changed, the yellow stripe has been expanded, a color of light and hope. The LGBTQ+ community fights for the most basic things: the rights that belong to us as human beings. The struggle for the captives is also a struggle for humanity. These are things that naturally go hand in hand," Nadav added.
Tal Levy has also been fighting for years for his rights as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and for the past eight months also for the return of his brother, Or Levy, who was taken to Gaza as a hostage. "There is no good future without the captives," he says. "If we talk about building a humane society that values human life, there is no way to do that without releasing them. The LGBTQ+ community does not do enough in the struggle to bring back the hostages. I would like my community to be more connected to the struggle and support it strongly."
"The right to be free in our country was taken from 125 hostages. In fact, even from those who have returned, and from all their families. At the end of the day, the LGBTQ+ community is an activist community that seeks to be free. At the rally, there will be an opportunity to engage this audience, which has not yet found a way to connect to our struggle, and recruit it for this important goal."
The Pride and Hope rally will take place on Thursday, June 6, in Charles Clore Park in Tel Aviv. The event will be held in collaboration with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
Mayor Ron Huldai explained that "the pride flag is a symbol of freedom. This year, we demand freedom for the captives, both male and female, who are in Hamas captivity, 125 sons and daughters. We are in the midst of one of Israel's difficult periods, feeling the pain of the entire nation, while we dot not stop the struggle for equality and freedom for everyone."