Israeli Tourists Brutally Attacked in Thailand in Antisemitic Assault

A 62-year-old Israeli woman and her 23-year-old daughter were violently attacked last week while hiking near a waterfall on Koh Phangan, Thailand, in an antisemitic incident. The assault began after a passerby with a French accent asked the daughter where they were from, and upon learning they were Israeli, expressed hatred for Israel's actions before launching a severe physical attack. The mother recounted from her hospital bed on Koh Samui that the assailant struck her repeatedly and bit her ear, while her daughter tried to defend her and was also beaten. Both women fought back, with the mother sustaining head injuries and briefly losing consciousness. The daughter managed to run to the road and summon two French women, prompting the attacker to flee on a motorcycle.

The victims were taken to a local hospital with serious head and body injuries. A CT scan revealed bleeding in the mother's brain, leading to their transfer by boat to a hospital on Koh Samui. The mother spent 24 hours in intensive care and underwent ear surgery, with further operations planned, while the daughter had nasal surgery. The suspect was arrested shortly after in another city following an incident where he assaulted police officers. After the daughter identified him to local authorities, he was confirmed as the attacker and placed under supervision. Representatives from Chabad and the local Israeli community visited the women in the hospital.