A group of Muslims in southern Thailand on Thursday announced plans to gather outside the Israeli embassy in Bangkok tomorrow to express their opinions on the Israel-Hamas war.
The group, however, insisted the gathering -- which will include the submission of a petition to the embassy -- is simply aimed at "encouraging peace" between Israelis and Palestinians and for both sides not to allow the conflict to escalate or drag on.
The plan was revealed by Baitat Samansathitkhun, a native of Phatthalung, who also said a number of Muslims from the South would be joined by fellow Muslims from Bangkok at the gathering.
Those from the South will travel in buses and private vehicles from provinces such as Satun, Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang, Phuket, Krabi and Phangnga, he said.
As well as submitting the petition to the Israeli embassy, the demonstrators will also express their opinions through speeches on the violence observed in news coverage, said Donmit Waeowanchit, another southern Muslim.
The gathering will also include political activists Jatuporn Prompan and Nititorn Lamlua.
A source said with the Israel-Hamas war dragging on and escalating, many people and groups around the world are expressing sympathy towards Palestinians. Meanwhile, armed Islamic groups in countries such as Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq stand ready to enter the war, the source added.
Wisut Binlate, a member of the Central Islamic Council of Thailand, said he understood that Thai security officials might feel awkward about the planned gathering.
However, he said, the authorities must understand that these Muslims are simply reacting to cruelty to civilians, children, women and elderly people in the Gaza Strip, which they have seen on the news.
The blast at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, which left several hundred people dead, for one, made Thai Muslims feel the need to express their views and call for better protection for innocent people, including Thai nationals being held hostage by Hamas, he said.
"Thailand should be known as a country that supports good moral standards and respects human rights. And it should never be inclined to side with any war criminals," he said.
