"Everything Hurts, I Just Want to Go Home": The Brutal Koh Samui Anti-Semitic Attack

A dream vacation in the tropical paradise of Koh Samui, Thailand, turned into a violent nightmare for three young Israelis who were targeted in a brutal, nationalistic attack at a local nightclub. On the night between Monday and Tuesday, the group was unprovokedly set upon by several men carrying French passports who, according to witnesses, spoke with Arabic accents and shouted anti-Jewish slurs. The assault has left two of the young men with severe physical injuries, including broken ribs and spinal fractures, while a third remains missing. As the survivors navigate the trauma in a local hospital, the Israeli embassy and insurance companies are working frantically to arrange an emergency medical evacuation back to Israel.

A Savage Unprovoked Assault

The attack occurred without any prior confrontation while the group was out for a night of relaxation. Gad, one of the victims, described the harrowing experience to news outlets, explaining that he is suffering from broken ribs and extreme difficulty breathing. "I went to enjoy myself and clear my head, and I came back with physical and mental trauma that happened on nationalistic grounds solely because I am a Jew," Gad stated. He expressed a deep sense of fear and a loss of trust, hoping that the local authorities will succeed in capturing the attackers and bringing them to justice.

Hodeya, the sister of another victim, shared that the surveillance footage from the club is nearly impossible to watch. According to her description, the footage shows the attackers relentlessly punching and kicking the Israelis even after they had fallen to the ground. Her brother is currently in a wheelchair, unable to walk due to the severity of the blows to his back and limbs. "Everything hurts him, he is tired and exhausted and only wants to return to the country. We are very, very worried and waiting for him to arrive," she said.

The Search for the Missing

While two of the men are receiving medical care, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the fate of the third Israeli. The three had met just days prior on the island and were spending the evening together when the violence erupted. Since the moment of the attack, his friends have been unable to establish any contact with him. Local police have shown the survivors security videos in an attempt to identify the perpetrators, and efforts are ongoing to track down the missing traveler.

The survivors noted that the attackers appeared to be of North African or Middle Eastern descent despite their French documentation. This incident has sent ripples of concern through the Israeli backpacker community in Thailand, serves as a grim reminder of the rising tide of global anti-Semitism. The victims are currently focusing on their recovery and the hope that their friend is found safe, while their families in Israel wait anxiously for their return.