A long-time source of division at Pride movements around the world has led to parade shut-downs and demonstrations, most recently in Toronto

Last November, Israel’s official social media accounts shared a photo of a smiling Israeli soldier proudly holding a rainbow flag amid the rubble in Gaza, where over 10,000 Palestinians – mostly women and children – had been killed in the weeks following October 7.

Written upon the multi-coloured flag – an iconic, decades-old symbol of LGBTQ+ pride – in English, Arabic and Hebrew, were the words “In The Name Of Love.”

The image quickly went viral. The soldier, a 31-year-old gay man, explained to the media that the Israeli military was “the only army in the Middle East that protects democratic values… it is the only army that allows LGBT people the freedom to be who they are, and therefore I fully believe in our goal.”

Meanwhile, on Instagram, Israel’s account described the image as an “attempt to raise the first pride flag in Gaza as a call for peace and freedom.”

But for many LGBTQ+ activists, and those struggling for Palestinian liberation, the incident represented an almost perfect example of “pinkwashing” – a term that refers to a state or organization’s attempts to use LGBTQ+ rights and symbols to distract or deflect attention from its harmful practices.

  • Leylineofthevoid@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    418·
    4 months ago

    Like Andrei S. Markovits once said, some criticisim of Israel is really “damned if you do, and damned if you don’t”. When Israel would discriminate against LGBTQ like other countries in the middle east, it would be used against them. But if it does not, it is still used against Israel. What do you want Israel to do? Discriminate against LGBTQ or not? You’re just against Israel per se, let’s be honest. I think this is really unfair criticism.

    • airportline@lemmy.mlEnglish
      9·
      4 months ago

      What do you want Israel to do? Discriminate against LGBTQ or not?

      What we don’t want Israel to do is use LGBTQ people as propaganda, especially against Palestinians. It’s unproductive, and it disgusts me everytime someone uses “Hamas would throw you off a roof” as a cheap gotcha.

    • Dasus@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      4 months ago

      But if it does not, it is still used against Israel. What do you want Israel to do?

      To stop the genocide they’re committing. I thought this was pretty clear from all the protests?

      I think this is really unfair criticism.

      I think it’s generally agreed that slaughtering children and raping and torturing people is wrong. Perhaps you were raised differently?