Israeli family expelled from zoo on Samui: owner posted Israeli flag next to target

Thailand's tourist police are investigating an Israeli family's claim that they were denied entry to Samui Exotic Park on the island of Samui because of their nationality. According to the family, a park employee physically attacked the father in front of his two daughters. After the incident, the owner posted a video with the Israeli flag, a 'No Entry' sign, and a shooting target.

Thailand's tourist police on the island of Samui are investigating claims by an Israeli family that they were denied entry to Samui Exotic Park after staff learned they were from Israel. According to the family, one worker physically attacked the father in front of his two daughters. After the incident, the owner posted a video with the Israeli flag, a 'No Entry' sign, and a shooting target. The story was reported by Ynet on August 13. Moran and Nave, residents of Rosh HaAyin, arrived at the zoo during their vacation in Thailand with their daughters aged six and nine. According to Moran, a female employee at the entrance asked where they were from. When the woman heard they were an Israeli family, she said Israelis were not allowed into the park. The couple tried to persuade her to let them in, explaining that the children had been looking forward to visiting the zoo. At some point, according to the couple, another employee was called. The family claims that when he was told they were Israelis, the man gestured for them to leave, began insulting the father, and then headbutted him in the neck area. According to the family, as they were leaving, a poster was also thrown at them. "He headbutted Nave in the neck," Moran said. She said that during the incident, the family mainly tried to leave the conflict area as quickly as possible. Both girls were very frightened, and Moran herself burst into tears after leaving the zoo. Earlier, in the zoo owner's account, a response to a review appeared, which read: "YES NO ISRAEL IN MY PARK IS CLEAR LIKE THAT" - meaning "Yes, no Israelis in my park, it's perfectly clear." The owner further claimed that this policy was related to the behavior of Israeli tourists who visited the park in the past, not political motives. The current incident was preceded by another conflict in late July. According to local media reports, the owners of Samui Exotic Park claimed they received threats from an Israeli tourist after a Palestinian flag and a 'Free Palestine' poster were displayed on the park's grounds. The owners also claimed that a campaign of mass negative online reviews was organized against the park. After the story gained publicity in Israel, the park owner posted new materials on social media calling for Israelis to be barred from the premises. One of the posted videos, according to available footage, shows a sign with the Israeli flag, overlaid with a 'No Entry' symbol. Next to it is a shooting target.