Thai pastor links floods to Israel protests

Thai Christian pastor Sittichoke "Champ" Sereethoranakul led supporters outside the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok on Wednesday 30 September 2026, saying they wanted to show that not all Thais hate Israel.

The Bright Romance Church pastor also repeated his suggestion that recent flooding may be connected to anti-Israel protests, although he acknowledged it could be a coincidence. Authorities have attributed the floods to prolonged heavy rain and water flowing south from northern Thailand.

Support for Israel outside embassy

Sittichoke and his followers gathered on Wednesday afternoon to offer moral support to Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Alona Fisher-Kamm amid what was described as growing anti-Israel sentiment.

"We do not believe that we can judge the whole nation based on some individuals," he said during a live interview with Khaosod English journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk.

Sittichoke said the group had come to show that "not all Thai citizens in this country hate Israel". He described Israel as Thailand's friend, not its enemy.

Although he is pastor of Bright Romance Church and founder of the Bright Romance non-profit organisation, Sittichoke said he was not representing either group at the gathering. He said he was speaking "simply as a Thai citizen who came here to make a stand".

His Bright Romance Facebook page has more than 1.1 million followers. Sittichoke describes himself as a Zionist on biblical grounds.

Flood remarks draw criticism

In a Facebook post two days before the embassy gathering, Sittichoke noted that Thailand had been hit by four days of unrelenting rain and floods less than a month after protesters had "cursed Israel".

He warned Thailand could suffer "far greater damage" if the protests continued, using the hashtag: "Don't let Thailand end up like Egypt."

Asked outside the embassy whether he was serious, Sittichoke said the flooding was "not normal".

"I'm not saying 100% that this is from the Lord, but for me as a priest.. why can't I express my faith..?" he said. While accepting it "could be a coincidence", he added: "For me, I don't believe in coincidence. I believe there is something wrong."

He later cited Zechariah 2:9 when questioned about the floods. During the interview, rain began falling and someone nearby held an umbrella over him so the discussion could continue.

The comments attracted sarcasm on X earlier this week. One user noted the flooding also coincided with the Thai prime minister ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange and Nene Royal winning America's Got Talent. Another said Thailand's monsoon season had acquired "a brand-new theological explanation".

Video courtesy of Khaosod

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1 October 2026