Tel Aviv Pride Parade Returns Amid Ongoing War Concerns

The 28th Tel Aviv Pride parade took place on Friday, marking the first full‑scale event since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Organisers restored the traditional route along the seafront, featuring colourful floats, drag queens and music, but attendance was noticeably lower than previous years.

Participants mixed celebration with political protest, signalling criticism of the Israeli government and the continued conflict. One marcher said, "We hate our government, we hate what they are doing and the direction they are taking," while another added, "Even though it isn’t over and we still live in wartime, it’s an occasion to remind us that love is stronger than everything." The parade unfolded under the sound of air‑raid sirens that had sounded a week earlier, reflecting the lingering threat of attacks in the city.