Yoav Atzmoni (from Twitter)
The first ever LGBTQ Pride flag was raised in Gaza, by an Israeli soldier. Gaza is controlled by the Islamic extremist terrorist group Hamas which outlawed any and all public expressions of support for Gay rights and has effectively outlawed homosexuality. It was raised by IDF armored reservist Yoav Atzmoni.
The 31-year-old resident of Jerusalem wrote on the flag “In the Name of Love” in English, Hebrew and Arabic.
Interestingly, many liberals around the world – if not most – have taken up the cause of Hamas and condemned Israel for its war in Gaza. The Rainbow Flag of the LGBT@ community has even been prominently displayed at many demonstrations condemning Israel for the war and calling for Israel’s destruction. Unfortunately, none of the demonstrators see the irony in this.
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Israel’s LGBTQ rights organization the Aguda released a statement calling on protestors to condemn the “brutal crimes against humanity of Hamas” and not to “use the pride flag to pinkwash crimes against humanity”
“We urge you to approach this matter and recognize the incoherent aspect of supporting Hamas’s crimes during these horrific days when Israelis, as well as Palestinians, suffer,’ said Aguda.
Yoav Atzmoni is himself a member of the LGBTQ community and explained that he wanted to send a message of hope to the people of Gaza living under Hamas brutality. In raising the Gay pride flag,
Atzmoni said that he wanted to make a call for peace and freedom in Gaza.
Before entering Gaza, Yoav Atzmoni told Business Insider how he hoped to unfurl the flag once in Gaza saying, “I remember as a child how important that flag was for me.”
“I won’t let them bring me back into the closet,” he declared.
The photo was tweeted with the comment, “To all the anti-Israel LGBTQ activists, the IDF sends regards from Gaza!”
Yoav Atzmoni said that he personally came out about a decade ago when performing his compulsory military service in the IDF. The IDF does not discriminate against gays and Atzmoni said his friends in the army were supportive and accepting of him when he told them that he was gay.
