Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Israeli teen dies of injuries from stabbing at Gay Pride parade

An Israeli teenager died on Sunday of stab wounds sustained when an ultra-Orthodox man with a knife attacked a Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem three days ago, police said.

Israel stabbing
Six people were stabbed as an ultra-Orthodox man with a knife attacked a Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem (Getty) Source: Getty Images

High school student Shira Banki, 16, was one of six people wounded in the assault. Her death highlighted the city's sharp social divisions between Orthodox and secular Jews. 

The suspect was arrested at the scene. Police have come under criticism for not keeping him under surveillance, as he had been released from prison only weeks earlier after being jailed for stabbing three at the same event in 2005. 

"We won't permit the terrible murderer to challenge the basic values on which Israeli society is built." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement after sending his condolences to the family.

"We reject with disgust any attempt to impose hatred and violence among us and will bring the murderer to justice," it said.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"Shira was murdered because she bravely supported the principle that everyone has the right to live their lives respectfully and with security." 

The annual parade in Jerusalem, which drew about 5,000 this year, has long been a focus of tension between Israel's predominant secular majority and the ultra-Orthodox Jewish minority, who object to public displays of homosexuality. 

The same event every year in Tel Aviv generally passes peacefully as secular Jews hold greater sway in what is the country's entertainment and business hub. 

The stabbings shocked Israel and drew condemnations from across the political spectrum. Israel's president, Reuven Rivlin, warned "we must not be deluded, a lack of tolerance will lead us to disaster."

Writing by Allyn Fisher-Ilan; Editing by Tom Heneghan.


2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world