No Pride in Genocide
©Mo Hamouda
Brahem El Haddioui exposes the hypocrisy of using Israel’s LGBTQ+ rights record to deflect from its human rights abuses against Palestinians. He argues that Israel’s LGBTQ+ inclusivity does not excuse its systemic injustices and calls for a more honest approach to human rights that does not compartmentalize or use LGBTQ+ rights as a political tool.
In international politics, where government sponsored narratives collide and overlap, the argument that Israel is a beacon of LGBTQ+ rights in an otherwise intolerant region often gets trotted out to deflect criticism of its policies. Proponents of Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian Territories use this stance to sidestep serious allegations that range from human rights abuses to actions that cross the boundaries of the Genocide Convention. They contrast Israel’s LGBTQ+ friendliness with the less progressive stance of Palestinian society, suggesting that critics focus too much on the wrong issues. However, this argument, at its best, is disingenuous, and at its worst, a cynical attempt at pinkwashing to mask deeper injustices.
Let’s get one thing straight – no pun intended – being more progressive on LGBTQ+ rights does not give any country a free pass to violate other human rights. This dichotomy is particularly stark in the case of Israel, where the state’s treatment of Palestinian LGBTQ+ individuals involves tactics that would make any authoritarian regime blush. For instance, Israeli security forces have exploited the sexual identities of Palestinian LGBTQ+ individuals, coercing them into becoming informants by threatening to reveal their orientations to their conservative communities.
This tactic of blackmailing vulnerable individuals has had severe consequences, as seen in the tragic case of Zuhair al-Ghaleeth. In April, 2023, in Nablus, West Bank, 23-year-old Palestinian al-Ghaleeth was killed, marking the first public execution of a suspected Israeli intelligence collaborator in nearly two decades. Al-Ghaleeth was accused by the Lion’s Den, an independent armed group that includes members from both the secular nationalist Fatah party and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, of providing intelligence to Israel. Al-Ghaleeth was allegedly blackmailed by Israeli agents using compromising footage (him having sex with another man), which forced him to gather intelligence on Lion’s Den leaders. This sort of blackmail is as vile as it is effective, weaponizing the most personal aspects of identity against vulnerable individuals.
“Underneath the surface of Israel’s celebrated inclusivity lies a stark reality where basic rights and freedoms are denied, and personal safety is compromised for those living under the most brutal occupation in modern history.”
This narrative convenience allows Israel to play a role in the global stage's spotlight, adorned with the rainbow colors of LGBTQ+ rights, while simultaneously shadowing its oppressive policies toward Palestinians. Such hypocrisy is particularly egregious given the life-and-death stakes for those caught in the crossfire. Underneath the surface of Israel’s celebrated inclusivity lies a stark reality where basic rights and freedoms are denied, and personal safety is compromised for those living under the most brutal occupation in modern history.
Proponents of Israel’s policies might point to the vibrant nightlife and openly celebrated Pride parades in Tel Aviv as evidence of its progressive nature, suggesting that these festivities are indicative of the country's overall human rights landscape. A stark example of this is the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) posting photos of a gay soldier holding a rainbow pride flag amid the rubble in Gaza.
This image was promoted as a "message of hope" to the people of Gaza, living under what the IDF described as Hamas brutality. Critics argue that this act was a clear instance of pinkwashing, using LGBTQ+ rights to divert attention from the destruction and suffering caused by military actions in Gaza.
In 2011, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Congress that “gays are hanged” in the Middle East. Additionally, Israel’s official Twitter account frequently showcases images of same-sex proposals between Israel Defense Force (IDF) soldiers, despite the fact that same-sex marriage remains illegal in Israel. However, let’s not confuse a well-staged party for broad political policy. The stark contrast between a Tel Aviv Pride and the life of a queer Palestinian struggling under occupation cannot be more pronounced. One could argue that if Israel truly cared about LGBTQ+ rights as a matter of principle rather than as a public relations strategy, its policies would not force Palestinian queers into such dire straits.
Furthermore, it is extremely concerning how the global LGBTQ+ community has responded – or rather, has not responded – to the challenges that Palestinian queers face. For example, during the most recent Eurovision Song Contest 2024, a manufactured Grindr notification joke made the audience laugh. Though the arena was filled with laughter, the European Broadcasting Union’s unwavering endorsement of Israel’s participation was in sharp contrast. This took place during Israel’s flagrant breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza; in the meantime, Russia was noticeably barred from the occasion.
“The hypocrisy is evident as Israel is celebrated for its LGBTQ+ inclusivity while simultaneously engaging in actions that result in significant humanitarian crises, showcasing a dark contrast between the entertainment world’s celebration of LGBTQ+ rights and the harsh realities on the ground.”
This situation highlights a depressing fact: there is a stark discrepancy in the way the LGBTQ+ community and its larger institutions approach human rights concerns. The hypocrisy is evident as Israel is celebrated for its LGBTQ+ inclusivity while simultaneously engaging in actions that result in significant humanitarian crises, showcasing a dark contrast between the entertainment world’s celebration of LGBTQ+ rights and the harsh realities on the ground. Such selective solidarity – laughing, singing, and dancing at Eurovision while ignoring the persecution occurring only a continent away – reflects ingrained biases that prioritize certain battles over others due to narrative convenience or political applicability.
The LGBTQ+ rights movement must immediately confront this selective blindness and make a commitment to fighting injustices anywhere they arise and for everyone they affect. Human rights are indivisible and that supporting one group at the expense of another is not only unjust but fundamentally undermines the integrity of the entire movement.
We must reject such deceptive practices and confront supporters of Israel’s policy of apartheid and occupation with the reality that LGBTQ+ rights cannot be compartmentalized or used as a bargaining chip in international relations.
Brahem is a seasoned privacy specialist with a background in law. Born into a large family in the mid 80’s, Brahem’s early experiences with poverty and personal challenges have profoundly shaped his commitment to social justice. Passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, he leverages his professional expertise and personal insights to advocate for systemic changes and support initiatives that foster inclusivity and fairness. Brahem is dedicated to using his experiences to assist others and address injustices in his community and beyond.