At 4 am local time Queer News Tonight anchor Al Ferguson began to report on a major ballistic missile attack on Central Tel Aviv. Sirens screamed as every phone in Israel sounded the category 1 alarm for a missile attack. In minutes, Iron Dome, the anti-rocket defense system, launched.
Hotspots Happening Out’s Vice President Al Ferguson was in Tel Aviv covering the return of Tel Aviv Pride. It was cancelled on Friday because of the Iranian nuclear sites attack. His hotel has had 12 missile warnings with hundreds of missiles launched at Tel Aviv and across Israel. The 4 am attack today was the largest and the most dangerous. (VIDEO 1)
Ferguson reported from Central Tel Aviv that you see incoming missiles. At one point, he says, “A major explosion was just heard.” The flash was greater and closer than he knew at that moment. The ballistic missile hit just four blocks from his hotel across from Tel Aviv Pride, and had major damage.
One of the casualties was the Gay Bar called Mash Central. On social media, they market the bar, Monday night drag shows, and other LGBTQ events as “TLV’s Last Gay Bar Standing.” As you can see, the slogan is no longer true as the bar was destroyed. The bar owned by Giora was visited by Al Ferguson early this morning.
Mash Central was on Allenby Square and had a ballistic missile hit a large apartment building that caused widespread destruction. 7 other buildings on the square had major damage as thousands of windows were blown out and many stores, shops and restaurants were also destroyed or heavily damaged. (VIDEO 2) The square was just 4 blocks from Ferguson’s hotel. Here is his reporting on the destruction of the gay bar. (VIDEO 3)
Mash Central Gay Bar was eerie as the Tel Aviv Pride rainbow decorations were still hanging in the windows, as the bar was destroyed. Later, Ferguson visited the LGBTQ Center in Tel Aviv that is only blocks away from Mash Central Gay Bar to discuss the emotional toll of the ongoing attacks on the LGBTQ community. Al will file a separate story on that visit and interview. Currently, all airports are closed in Israel as the country is in a state of emergency.
Most businesses are closed and everyone must stay close to emergency shelters. Al is stranded and not currently able to get out of Israel. Today he visited the US Embassy only to find it is completely closed with no US personal present. Israel security who are monitoring the safety of the building, advised him to send an email to the US Embassy for instructions.
The US Embassy was hit by shrapnel from the Allenby Square missile. Ferguson told Queer News Tonight “This is the scariest event I have ever witnessed. The fear in the LGBTQ community is real here.
Nerves are being shattered while waiting for the next phone missile alarm going off across Israel. Today’s ballistic missile damage shows that the defense of Tel Aviv is not 100% but the resilience of the Israeli’s and the LGBTQ community to this crisis is really inspirational.”
This story is very fluid and Queer News Tonight will continue with Al Ferguson in live reports from Tel Aviv.
