Israeli tourists and transwomen clash in Phuket street brawl (video)
Two Israeli tourists found themselves embroiled in a street skirmish with a group of transgender women on the bustling Bangla Road in Phuket, leaving both parties nursing injuries.
The brawl erupted in the island’s notorious nightlife district on Wednesday, March 5, sparking a dramatic scene captured on video and widely shared across social media.
Drama unfolded in the vibrant hub as the tourists attempted to mediate a heated row between four to five transgender women and two Thai women.
The dispute allegedly began over allegations of client-stealing. But as the Israelis stepped in to play peacemaker, they soon became targets themselves.
Footage shows the Israelis making a hasty retreat down Bangla Road, pursued by their assailants amid the unfolding chaos.
By the end of the fracas, both the Israeli visitors and the transgender individuals bore the marks of battle. Emergency services swiftly attended to the injured parties, rushing the tourists to Patong Hospital, where they were treated for their wounds.
Snaps from the scene reveal the aftermath, including one of the tourists sporting a torn shirt, evidence of the scuffle’s intensity.
Phuket police quickly unravelled the identities of three participants from amongst the transgender women: 20 year old Suwicha, 28 year old Apisit, and 29 year old Siwapoom. All individuals involved in the melee, both Israeli and transgender, face charges of disturbing public order, a violation that could cost them each up to 5,000 baht.
This incident adds to a string of recent troubles prompting the Israeli Embassy in Thailand to issue a call for caution to its nationals.
Last month, the embassy released guidelines on their Facebook page aimed at smoothing relations and reminding travellers to avoid pitfalls during their Thai adventures.
The Israeli Embassy issued a statement underlining this sentiment.
“The Thai people respect and welcome Israeli tourists. Maintain this relationship, and don’t let isolated incidents damage the reputation of the hundreds of thousands of Israeli tourists who visit Thailand every year. It’s in our hands! Let’s travel respectfully, follow simple rules, and enjoy Thailand to the fullest.”
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