Palestine flag in Phuket shop angers Israelis
PHUKET - An argument between a mobile phone shop owner and two Israeli tourists over a “Free Palestine” flag has drawn attention after video of the exchange was posted on social media.
A heated argument between a mobile phone shop owner and two Israeli tourists over a "Free Palestine" flag has sparked controversy in Phuket. The incident, captured on CCTV, occurred on August 2 inside a shop in Bang Thao, Tambon Cherng Talay, Thalang district. The video, shared on social media, shows the tourists questioning the flag's presence, leading to an altercation before they left the establishment.
The shop owner, Dahlan, stated that the flag had been displayed for about a year and was not recently installed in connection with any specific event. He expressed his personal opposition to the loss of life and destruction in Gaza, emphasizing it as a matter of conscience. Both sides accused each other of initiating the confrontation.
This incident is part of a series of confrontations involving Israelis in Thailand, with tourists cautioned by their embassy to avoid engaging in discussions about sensitive issues related to Israel's actions in Gaza. Recent incidents include a zoo refusing entry to an Israeli family on Koh Samui and an unprovoked attack on an Israeli woman and her daughter on Koh Phangan, resulting in serious injuries.
Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister warned against using the country as a platform for ideological views that could lead to unrest, suggesting that troublesome individuals might face visa revocation.
Written by urgent.news from Bangkok Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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