Tens of thousands gather in Israel for return of Pride parade and beach party

The Pride parade in Tel Aviv attracted tens of thousands of revellers (Ariel Schalit/AP)

Tens of thousands of people attended a Pride parade in Tel Aviv on Friday in one of the largest public gatherings held since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

The vibrant parade and beach party are held on the seafront promenade in the Israeli city, a rare hub of gay culture in the conservative Middle East. Elsewhere in the region homosexuality is widely considered taboo and is outlawed in many countries.