• Source:JND
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A series of viral videos circulating on social media has sparked controversy and confusion over whether foreign workers, particularly Thai nationals, are being barred from entering bomb shelters in Israel amid ongoing missile attacks.

One widely shared video shows a group of Thai workers standing outside a closed underground shelter door. In the clip, one of the workers is heard asking, “Why are you preventing us?” An Israeli man then allegedly responds, “You are Thai, and the shelter is for Jews only.” This caption, translated into Arabic and shared online, fueled outrage and accusations of racism.

Counterclaims have since emerged challenging the authenticity and accuracy of the video's captions. Several users have pointed out that the Arabic subtitles misrepresented the actual conversation. The original video, without added captions, shows the Israeli man greeting the Thai workers in their language, saying “Swadee ka” (hello in Thai), and then calling his friends to enter the shelter. At no point in the video does he explicitly state that non-Jews are forbidden from entering.

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Social media users have accused prominent figures and outlets, including satirist Bassem Youssef and pro-Hamas Quds News, of sharing mistranslated or misleading versions of the footage to inflame tensions.

Broader Claims Of Discrimination

Broader allegations have surfaced claiming that non-Jewish foreigners, Palestinian citizens of Israel, and Bedouin communities are being systematically denied access to public shelters during air raids. Critics say these incidents highlight deep structural inequalities in shelter accessibility across Israel.

Reports from Israeli media have confirmed that access to shelters is a significant issue for many communities, particularly in minority and economically disadvantaged areas. According to The Marker, about 25 per cent of Israelis do not have access to a reinforced security room or public shelter. Israeli Channel 12 reported that 56 per cent of Israelis lack a secure room in their home.

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The issue is further compounded by the condition of existing shelters. Many are reportedly in disrepair, illegally occupied, or physically inaccessible. These shortcomings disproportionately affect Arab towns and Bedouin settlements, where legal status and infrastructure neglect have left residents vulnerable.