Israeli Tourists Violently Attacked, Beaten in Koh Samui, Thailand
A brutal assault on Israeli tourists in Koh Samui, Thailand, has sparked international outrage after victims were chased and beaten by French-North African tourists and local security for speaking Hebrew.
A group of three Israelis, including a father and son, were reportedly harassed and assaulted at a local bar in Koh samui, Thailand, late Monday night, February 16, 2026, after being overheard speaking Hebrew.
The attackers, described as French tourists of North African origin, confronted the victims, chased them through the venue, and forced entry into a bathroom stall where the father and son were hiding.
According to accounts, the assailants demanded the Israelis empty their pockets before the violence escalated.
Shockingly, bar security guards intervened but allegedly joined the attackers, beating the victims with batons.
One Israeli managed to escape the scene, while the father and son sustained injuries; one victim fled by taxi and sought hospital treatment.
Two Israeli women living on the island assisted the victims in the aftermath.
Local police responded but reportedly urged the victims to remain silent about the incident rather than pursuing immediate arrests.
The assaulted individuals contacted the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which referred them to the embassy in Bangkok for support.
The incident has sparked outrage online, with advocates highlighting it as an antisemitic attack driven by the victims' Hebrew speech and Israeli identity.
No arrests have been reported yet, and Thai authorities have not issued an official statement. The Israeli embassy is monitoring the situation closely.