An American LGBTQ+ activist who fled Israel during Hamas attacks says she never imagined feeling safer in Dubai, where being gay is a crime

• Hamas launched unprecedented surprise attacks on Israel on Saturday, killing at least 800 people.
• LGBTQ+ activist Rachael Fried and her wife were visiting Israel during the attacks.
• They left Israel on a flight through Dubai, where being gay is a crime.

As an American LGBTQ+ activist, Rachael Fried never thought she would feel a sense of relief upon landing in Dubai, where homosexuality is a crime. But when Hamas launched large-scale surprise attacks on Israel on Saturday, it became the best option.