Tel Aviv residents moved by Lebanon flag display

The Tel Aviv municipality lit up City Hall with the Lebanese flag in solidarity with the people of Beirut after Tuesday's devastating explosion.

Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai tweeted that "humanity takes precedence over every conflict, and our hearts are with the Lebanese people following the horrible disaster that befell it."

Israel and Lebanon are officially in a state of war and do not have diplomatic relations.

Israel fought a monthlong war in 2006 against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, and the sides remain bitter enemies.

The gesture by city authorities in Tel Aviv sparked controversy within Israel.

Some current and former lawmakers criticized the decision to project the Lebanese flag onto City Hall.

But many residents applauded the move.

"This has nothing to do with our politics, with them. This has nothing to do with borders. This has to do with humanity. And that's what we represent here in Tel Aviv", one resident said.