Thousands of revellers attended Jerusalem's Gay Pride parade under police protection on Thursday, bringing the rainbow flag to the traditionally conservative city.

More than 10,000 people attended the parade through central Jerusalem, police said, with dozens of roads closed off by security two years after a 16-year-old girl was stabbed to death by an ultra-Orthodox Jew during the event.

All marchers were inspected before joining, with carrying a weapon of any kind prohibited.

Police said 22 people had been arrested before and during the parade, including one carrying a knife.

Revellers carried rainbow flags, banged drums and sang songs against homophobia.

Many laid flowers under a picture of Shira Banki, who was killed at the 2015 march.

Banki was attacked by Yishai Shlissel, an ultra-Orthodox Jew who also stabbed five other people and is now serving a life