The Queer Amsterdam foundation has pulled out of organising this year’s Pride Walk, one of the highlights of the annual Pride celebrations in the capital, because of a row over a ban on Israeli flags.

Queer Amsterdam caused an outcry last week when it said on social media that Israeli flags would be banned during the walk. Mayor Femke Halsema intervened, saying there are no flag bans during the walk, prompting the organisers to apologise for their “confused formulation” and lack of context.

On Sunday, however, the organisation said on Instagram it was pulling out of the organisational role anyway.

“As we said, our wording in a previous post was unfortunate,” the statement said. “But we cannot wholeheartedly welcome or support all flags in this political climate. We think it is important to compromise, but not to the extent that we lose sight of who we are and what we stand for.”

Founding organisation Stichting Homomonument will continue to organise the walk, which takes place on July 20 as planned.

Campaign group Centraal Joods Overleg was among the organisations protesting about the ban, pointing out that flags from countries where homosexuality is considered a crime would be welcome at the event.

The Stichting Homomonument said on social media it believed it is “important to use the Pride Walk as a tool… to raise a strong voice against the discrimination, oppression and persecution of people for their sexual orientation or gender identity. Anywhere in the world.” 

Long organised by the Pride Amsterdam Foundation (SPA), last year Queer Amsterdam was added to the organisational line up for the Pride Amsterdam event. That move itself was not without controversy. 

This year Pride Amsterdam talks place from July 27 to August 4, with the canal boat festival on August 3. The Pride Walk, a route through the city centre and based around the Dam, takes place on July 20 while the Pride March to the Vondelpark is on July 27.