Israel holds concerts for vaccinated Tel Aviv residents

Israeli musician Ivri Lider performs in front of audience, where all guests were required to show "green passport" proof of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination or full recovery from the virus at a soccer stadium in Tel Aviv.

Hundreds of people vaccinated against COVID-19 packed a Tel Aviv football stadium for the first of four concerts organised by the municipality, as Israel eases virus restrictions.

The 500 fans wore masks and sat in the central section of the 30,000-seat capacity Bloomfield Stadium to attend a performance by Israeli pop star Ivri Lider.

"This is really cool. I am so happy," said Reut Gofer, as she arrived at the venue. "I hope this is the beginning of a period when we will return to our normal life," she added.

Attendees show off their "green passes" (proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19) as they arrive at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv.

Israel in February began easing restrictions following a third lockdown, and has since gradually re-opened shopping malls, gyms, swimming pools, hotels and some cultural facilities.

But in most cases, the return to normality has been reserved for people who have been fully vaccinated, under a so-called "green badge" scheme.

Israel is among the world leaders in COVID-19 vaccinations per capita.

More than half of the country's nine million-strong population have already received the two recommended doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine since the inoculation drive began in December.

An attendee shows off a "green pass" (proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19) upon arrival at Bloomfield Stadium.

"Since a majority of the population has already been vaccinated... we can finally open up our cultural and leisure activities," said Eytan Shwartz, a spokesman for the Tel Aviv municipality.

"I hope that soon we will be able to fill up the (Bloomfield) stadium," he added.

Israel has registered more than 796,000 cases of COVID-19, including over 5,800 deaths.

An aerial view of people vaccinated against COVID-19 and holding a "green pass" attending a "green pass concert" for vaccinated people organised by the Tel Aviv municipality in Bloomfield Stadium.