TEL AVIV: Yellow ribbons of solidarity with Israel鈥檚 Gaza hostages featured alongside colorful performances at Tel Aviv鈥檚 drag festival that opened this week, days after a ceasefire brought hope of the captives鈥� return.
The ceasefire between Israel and Gaza鈥檚 Hamas militant group came into effect on Sunday, with the first three hostages released in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners. Some 30 more of the 94 hostages who remain in the enclave are meant to be freed over the next five weeks.
鈥淚 think we can continue our lives, we can continue celebrating,鈥� said the show鈥檚 host, Kimberly Swan. 鈥淏ut the most important thing right now in our country is to bring our hostages back home.鈥�
The Gaza war was triggered by Hamas鈥� Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. It was the country鈥檚 deadliest day and the pain it inflicted on Israelis still endures.
鈥淚t always feels like something is missing,鈥� said performer Joanna Russ. 鈥淟ike our brothers and sisters are not next to us.鈥�
Israel鈥檚 15-month offensive in Gaza has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, health authorities there say, and laid waste to the enclave. Israel has faced fierce international criticism, including among artists around the world, for its campaign.
Some performers at the festival in freewheeling Tel Aviv said they hoped to rekindle ties with drag performers abroad. 鈥淲e are here to say we miss the queens and we hope they don鈥檛 have a stigma about us,鈥� performer Nona Chalant said.