A heated confrontation between an Israeli family and a tuk-tuk driver in Phuket has sparked controversy on Thai social media and in local media, after the driver posted a video showing an argument in which one of the Israelis repeatedly curses him in English and tells him in Hebrew, “You’re trash.”
The driver also alleged that members of the family threatened him and attempted to attack him, though his account has not been independently corroborated.
According to Thai news site The Thaiger, citing the driver and a report by Phuket Times, the incident began when members of the family approached the driver and asked about the price of a ride. The two sides failed to agree, and the driver remained at the location waiting for other passengers.
A short time later, an Australian couple arrived and booked a ride to the Bangla area, one of Phuket’s main nightlife districts. After the couple entered the tuk-tuk, the Israeli family returned and, according to the driver, asked to join the trip. He refused and directed them to another tuk-tuk parked nearby.
The disagreement then escalated.
The driver claimed that members of the family attempted to prevent the Australian couple from leaving with him and that he intervened to protect his passengers.
In the video he later published, five people identified in local reports as members of the Israeli family can be seen standing beside the tuk-tuk. One of them repeatedly curses the driver in English, tells him in Hebrew, “You’re trash,” and appears to spit on the road.
The driver responds that he does not want to transport passengers who behave that way and then leaves the scene.
According to his account, threats were also directed at him during the confrontation. He further claimed that at one point one of the family members tried to lift a concrete slab from the side of the road in order to attack him.
The Thaiger reported that the man was unable to lift the slab because it was too heavy and that no physical assault ultimately took place.
The driver said he decided to publish the video because he objected to the family’s behavior and believed conduct of that kind was inappropriate at tourist destinations in Thailand. The footage was subsequently shared by Phuket Times and other Thai media outlets.
As of now, no response from the family to the allegations has been published, and there has been no report that the driver filed a police complaint or contacted Thai tourism authorities.
Israeli embassy previously urged tourists to respect local culture
The incident comes after a series of confrontations involving Israeli tourists in Thailand last year that fueled tensions with residents and local authorities.
In February 2025, the Israeli embassy in Thailand issued special guidance to Israeli travelers, urging them to respect local residents and avoid behavior that could damage the image of Israeli tourists.
Later, Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Orna Sagiv traveled to the northern town of Pai together with senior Thai officials in an effort to calm tensions following several incidents involving Israelis.
The visit took place amid reports that some local businesses had refused to serve Israeli tourists, highlighting broader concern over the conduct of a minority of visitors and its impact on relations between Israelis and local communities.