The owner of Ayenda Gym in Bali’s Ubud has gone viral for expelling three Israeli tourists from his facility due to their alleged connection to the Israeli military and reported misconduct toward gym employees.
Video footage shared on social media shows the owner, identified as 32-year-old Samir, directing the men to leave the premises. “Are you serving in the IDF [Israeli Defence Forces]? You killed f*cking babies, so I won’t discuss it. You guys are not even allowed to be in this country. And be grateful, because I’m not involving the police,” Samir can be heard as saying.
He also alleged that that the individuals entered Indonesia using alternative passports.
In a subsequent video explaining the interaction, Samir said that the encounter took place when one tourist acted rudely toward local workers. It was then that Samir verified the group’s nationality and military history.
“I said it was about Israelis and the IDF, not about religion. But they kept framing it as a religious issue,” Samir said in the video.
He added that the facility enforces a rule prohibiting entry to individuals who disrespect staff members or hold a history of service in the Israeli armed forces.
It may be noted that the videos come amid global boycott efforts and public pushback against Israeli military personnel due to the genocide in Gaza.
It is also pertinent to note that Indonesia holds no formal diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv and Isreali passport holders face strict requirements when attempting to visit the country.
Local law enforcement in Gianyar Regency report that officers are reviewing the video and examining the circumstances of the event.
