Were Foreign Workers Barred From Israeli Bomb Shelters? Viral Videos Stir Online Debate

Last Updated:June 23, 2025, 18:06 IST

One of the most widely circulated videos appears to show an Israeli man allegedly preventing Thai and other foreign workers from entering an underground shelter

Amid rising tensions, the newly circulated videos allege that some foreign workers are being barred from using these shelters.

Several purported videos have surfaced on social media claiming that foreign workers in Israel were denied access to bomb shelters amid the ongoing war between Israel and Iran. The conflict, now in its 11th consecutive day, shows no signs of de-escalation, with both sides continuing to launch missiles and drones at each other.

In Israel, where most homes are equipped with bunkers due to long-standing civil defence laws, citizens have been regularly taking shelter as sirens sound across cities. Since the 1950s, Israeli law has required all new buildings to include bomb shelters as part of civil defence preparedness.

Amid rising tensions, the newly circulated videos allege that some foreign workers are being barred from using these shelters. News18 has not independently verified the videos but has reviewed clips that have been widely shared across platforms.

One of the most widely circulated videos appears to show an Israeli man allegedly preventing Thai and other foreign workers from entering an underground shelter. In the footage, the workers stand outside a closed shelter door. One of them asks, “Why are you preventing us?" The man replies, “You are Thai, and the shelter is for Jews only."

Another video, shared by a Chinese worker in Israel, claims that only Israelis are allowed to enter the shelters. The man adds, “My conscience does not allow me to sympathise with the Jews. I really can’t understand their behaviour."

In a separate video, a Ukrainian woman in Tel Aviv claims she was denied entry to a shelter because she is not Jewish. “They told us, ‘We’re not obligated to let you in; there’s not enough space.’ So much for Israeli solidarity," she says in the clip.

Another widely shared video shows a man from Daliyat al-Karmel, near Haifa, alleging that he was turned away after people heard him speaking Arabic. “They didn’t let me into the shelter because I’m an Arab," he says.

Counterclaims Emerge

Alongside these videos, some social media users have challenged the allegations. One user on wrote: “Bassem Youssef and Hamas Quds News mistranslate to claim Jews prevent Thai workers from entering the shelter, when they were really being invited in. The original video (without the Arabic text added) and account shows the inside of the shelter with the workers."

The user also shared screenshots which they claim show the Israeli man welcoming foreign workers into the shelter. However, this counterclaim has not been independently verified.

As of now, the Israeli government has not issued an official response regarding the specific incidents shown in the videos.

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News viral Were Foreign Workers Barred From Israeli Bomb Shelters? Viral Videos Stir Online Debate