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SCMP’s Asia desk

A senior Muslim leader in Thailand has condemned reports of the kingdom’s nationals apparently fighting alongside the Israeli military in besieged Gaza, calling the act a “stab in the back” to the global Islamic community.
Syed Sulaiman Husaini, who is involved in talks with Hamas in Iran to free at least 24 Thais being held hostage by the Palestinian militant group, urged Bangkok to repatriate all its citizens in Israel to prevent the issue from becoming an intractable problem.
Sulaiman in a Facebook post claimed Thai mercenaries have joined forces with the Israeli Defence Force in their battle against Hamas.
The Shia cleric also said the move could be perceived as Thailand siding with Israel and stabbing the Muslim world in the back.
‘Peace only on paper’: Gaza war sharpens Arab world’s grievances against Israel
His comments came after a photo of a Thai citizen purportedly working with Israeli troops on the front lines went viral on social media.
Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said the image appeared to be of a Thai-Israeli dual national reservist who was drafted into the military following the war that broke out on October 7.
Israel said 1,200 people, many of them civilians, were killed and more than 230 hostages taken in the attack launched by Hamas from the Gaza Strip.
In response, the Israeli military has pounded Gaza, where the Hamas-controlled health ministry said more than 11,300 people, thousands of them children, have been killed.

Parnpree said he had sought more information from Thai officials in Tel Aviv, adding Thais holding dual citizenship may have joined Israel’s fight.
He also called on Thais employed in the war-hit nation to avoid getting involved in the conflict and denied they were working as paid mercenaries.
An estimated 500 Thai women, who are married to Israeli citizens, have children that hold dual nationality, The Thai Examiner reported.
Thai negotiators met Hamas officials in Tehran last month and were given a pledge that the captives would be released at the “right time”.

Hamas’ military wing on Monday said Israel was delaying a prospective Qatar-mediated deal to release dozens of hostages they are holding in Gaza as part of a prisoner swap scheme.
Political leaders and army chiefs in Israel have said there will be no ceasefire until the hostages are freed.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who said his government is working hard to bring the hostages home, recently accused Israel of offering more money to Thai workers to make them stay put.

Srettha urged all Thai workers to leave the war zone and pledged to help the returnees find employment opportunities.
Thirty-four Thai nationals have been killed in the conflict, and the kingdom has evacuated more than 8,000 of its citizens on repatriation flights.
About 30,000 Thais work in Israel, mostly as agricultural labourers.


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Thai Muslim leader slams reports of compatriots backing Israel in Gaza: ‘stab in the back’

An Israeli flag stands on the top of a destroyed building in the Gaza Strip on November 15. Photo: AP

The coffins of eight Thai workers killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas are displayed after being repatriated from Israel on October 20. Photo: AFP 

A Thai student returning from Israel hugs a relative in the southern Thai province of Narathiwat on October 18. Photo: AFP  

A Thai national injured in an attack on Israel by Hamas arrives in Bangkok after an evacuation flight on October 12. Photo: AFP 

‘Not acceptable’ for Israel to use money to retain Thai workers, PM Srettha Thavisin says

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has urged all Thai workers to leave the war zone. Photo: Reuters

Thai-Muslim demonstrators hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against Israel and in solidarity with the Palestinian people at the Israeli embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday. Photo: EPA-EFE

A woman lights candles in remembrance of the victims of the Hamas attacks on Israel, during an event on Tuesday organised by the Israeli embassy in Bangkok. Photo: EPA-EFE

Israel-Gaza war: Jews in Indonesia hide in ‘religious closet’ as antisemitism flares

People in Surabaya take part in a mass rally in support of Palestinians on November 12. Photo: AFP 

Demonstrators carry placards calling for the boycott of products and firms they say are linked to Israel. Photo: AFP 

Gaza war sharpens Arab world’s grievances against Israel: ‘peace is only on paper’

Protesters on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza hold placards denouncing the killing of civilians during a rally at the site last month. Photo: AFP

Protesters shout anti-Israel slogans during a rally to show solidarity with the people of Gaza after Friday in Cairo on October 20. Photo: AP

Israel’s foreign minister (second from left) chats with his counterparts from Bahrain and the UAE, accompanied by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in March last year. Photo: AFP

Volunteers and members of the UAE’s Red Crescent Society in Dubai prepare boxes with humanitarian aid and relief goods for Palestinians last month. Photo: EPA-EFE

The Abrahamic Family House, an interfaith complex consisting of a mosque, church and synagogue, in the Saadiyat Cultural District of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Photo: Bloomberg

Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim’s pro-Palestinian cause risks domestic issues being sidelined

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks at the ‘Malaysia Stands with Palestine’ rally in Kuala Lumpur on October 24. Photo: EPA-EFE

Palestinian wounded in an Israeli strike rest at Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City on November 7, 2023. Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim has been vocal in his support for the Palestinians amid the Israel-Gaza war. Photo: Reuters

This Week in Asia

Politics

News

Asia

Southeast Asia

World

Middle East

Syed Sulaiman Husaini, a Shia cleric involved in talks with Hamas to free at least 24 Thais being held hostage, claims Thai mercenaries are supporting the Israeli Defence Force
He urged Bangkok to repatriate all Thai citizens in Israel to prevent the issue from becoming intractable


Syed Sulaiman Husaini, a Shia cleric involved in talks with Hamas to free at least 24 Thais being held hostage, claims Thai mercenaries are supporting the Israeli Defence Force.


Israel

Israel-Gaza war

War and conflict

Religion

Thai Muslim leader slams reports of compatriots backing Israel in Gaza: ‘stab in the back’

Syed Sulaiman Husaini, a Shia cleric involved in talks with Hamas to free at least 24 Thais being held hostage, claims Thai mercenaries are supporting the Israeli Defence Force He urged Bangkok to repatriate all Thai citizens in Israel to prevent the issue from becoming intractable

Syed Sulaiman Husaini, a Shia cleric involved in talks with Hamas to free at least 24 Thais being held hostage, claims Thai mercenaries are supporting the Israeli Defence Force

He urged Bangkok to repatriate all Thai citizens in Israel to prevent the issue from becoming intractable