Tel Aviv Pride Parade was converted to the Pride and Hope Assembly on Thursday for the hostages amid the ongoing war. The rally was hosted by Assi Azar and Nesli Barda, in collaboration with the municipality and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Charles Clore Park.
Usually, Tel Aviv's Pride Parade is the summer's hottest party (quite literally) due to the city being one of the best Pride cities in the world. However, Mayor Ron Huldai announced that due to the war and the fact that we still have 124 hostages in Gaza, there will not be a parade as usual, but a rally symbolizing pride, hope, and freedom.
According to estimates, 25,000 people attended the Pride and Hope Assembly. The rally also included a large presence of artists and creators who came to participate in the important event, during which members of the LGBTQ community were awarded for their courage during the war.
Noa Kirel performed "Unicorn" on stage with the family of Eden Yerushalmi, who is still held hostage in Gaza. Among the participants were Netta Barzilai who wore a noticeable yellow outfit, Noa Tishby, who made it from Los Angeles, Tamir Greenberg, Ran Danker, Noga Erez, Shahar Tavoch, Benaia Barabi, Tom Baum, Ivri Lider, Annabelle Bibi, Lihi Toledano, and Valerie Hamaty, Nunu, and many more.