The two friends, who live in London — Emanuele, originally from Italy, and Nav from India — are visiting Israel together for the eighth and fourth time respectively. Despite the ongoing conflict, they made a deliberate decision to travel to Tel Aviv this year, driven by a strong connection to the country and what the city’s Pride celebration represents. The Tel Aviv Pride parade will take place on Friday.
Despite the war: The tourists marking pride in Israel
(Video: Yaron Brener)
“This is my eighth time coming to Israel. I've been coming since 2022,” said Baruffaldi. “I have a lot of friends here. I love the country, the energy, the culture — the parties are amazing, and the weather too. There are lots of reasons I keep coming back.”
Singh echoed the sentiment: “Israel always gets us back — the city, the people, the food. It's very warm — both the weather and the people.”
But this year’s Pride, held under the shadow of war, felt different. It was Baruffaldi’s second time attending Pride during the conflict and his third visit to Israel since it began. Yet, he said, the resilience of Israelis is part of what keeps drawing him back.
“I'm not that scared by the situation,” he said. “My friends here have always reassured me. I think it’s an amazing time to be here. It’s obviously challenging for people, but I really appreciate how they keep going and try to enjoy life.”
Singh admitted he had initial concerns, but ultimately decided that showing up was more important than staying away.
“I won’t lie, I did have hesitations,” he said. “But I was reassured, and it’s important to remember what Pride is for. We stand for what’s right. Even given the circumstances, it's even more important to show up and support — support the community, support Israel.”
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Family reactions were mixed but supportive. “My mom is obviously worried — she always is when I travel,” said Baruffaldi. “But my family supports me. They’re big supporters of Israel, so while they’re concerned, they understand my decision.”
Singh added, “I come from India, and I’m sure people are following what’s happening there as well. So I’m used to complex situations. We’re sensible people. We make our decisions with care.”
The two men also shared their dismay at LGBTQ groups around the world that have chosen to protest against Israel in favor of the Palestinian cause.
“I don’t share that view,” Baruffaldi said. “I think the Palestinian cause has overtaken a lot of LGBT groups in a way that they no longer represent me, and that’s been disappointing. Coming from London, I’ve seen this a lot. This might be the only Pride right now where the Palestinian cause hasn’t overtaken the LGBT cause.”
Singh agreed: “People should be a bit more aware. Rather than just liking another post on social media, they should do more research and understand what they’re actually supporting.”
Despite the challenges, the two men described the atmosphere in Tel Aviv as electric.
“It’s really warm — not just the weather, but the people too,” said Baruffaldi. “Compared to London, where people can be more reserved, the energy here is beautiful. Even now, you can feel that it's not a normal time, but that makes the energy even more special.”
For Singh, what stood out most was the inclusivity. “It's just so welcoming to everyone,” he said. “In many places, Pride tends to focus on a narrow group. But here, it feels open to all.”
So, can Tel Aviv claim the title of best Pride parade in the world?
“100%,” said Baruffaldi without hesitation. Singh laughed and added, “You're definitely up there.”
As they wrapped up the interview, the pair thanked their Israeli hosts and prepared to head back out into the sun-soaked streets of Tel Aviv, ready to celebrate, support and stand proud.