Tourist police on Thailand’s Koh Samui island are investigating an incident in which an Israeli family says it was denied entry to Samui Exotic Park after staff learned they were from Israel, with the father later allegedly assaulted in front of his two young daughters.
According to the family, an employee at the entrance asked where they were from. When they replied that they were Israeli, they were told Israelis were not permitted inside.
Israeli family expelled from Koh Samui zoo
(Video: Social media)
Moran and Naveh, residents of Rosh HaAyin, were visiting the attraction during a family vacation in Thailand with their daughters, ages 6 and 9.
Moran said the couple tried to persuade the employee to let them enter, in part because their daughters had been looking forward to the visit. At some point, another employee was called to the entrance. The family says that after he was told they were Israeli, he gestured for them to leave, cursed at Naveh and then head-butted him in the neck.
They also allege that a sign was thrown toward them as they were leaving. “He head-butted Naveh in the neck,” Moran said, describing the family as primarily trying to get away from the scene. She said both girls were extremely frightened and that she broke down crying after they left the park.
Israeli flag marked ‘no entry’ beside shooting target
(Photo: Social media)
The allegations extend beyond the confrontation itself. A response previously posted from the park owner’s account to an online review stated explicitly: “YES NO ISRAEL IN MY PARK IS CLEAR LIKE THAT.” In the same response, the owner claimed the policy stemmed from the behavior of Israeli visitors in the past rather than from political motives.
The incident follows an earlier dispute at the end of July. According to a local report, the owners of Samui Exotic Park said they had received threats from an Israeli tourist after displaying a Palestinian flag and a “Free Palestine” sign at the attraction. The owners also claimed they were subsequently targeted by a campaign of negative online reviews. At the time, the park said it welcomed visitors of all nationalities but expected guests to respect its rules.
Following reports of the latest incident in Israel, the park owner posted additional material on social media opposing the entry of Israelis. In one video, according to footage circulated online, a sign bearing an Israeli flag is marked with a “no entry” symbol, while an image resembling a shooting target appears beside it.
Thailand’s tourist police are examining the circumstances surrounding the family’s allegations.