Thai Pastor Says Floods May Be Linked to Protests Against Israel
Thai Pastor Says Floods May Be Linked to Protests Against Israel
BANGKOK, Oct. 1, 2026 — Thai Christian pastor Sittichoke “Champ” Sereethoranakul has suggested that Bangkok’s devastating floods could be connected to recent anti-Israel protests, warning that Thailand could suffer “far greater damage” if protests against Israel continue.
Sittichoke made the remarks while speaking outside the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok on Wednesday, Sept. 30, where he and supporters gathered to express solidarity with Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Alona Fisher-Kamm and demonstrate that, in his words, not all Thais oppose Israel.
Sittichoke, pastor of Bright Romance Church and founder of the Bright Romance non-profit organisation, said he was attending the gathering as a Thai citizen rather than representing either organisation.
“We do not believe that we can judge the whole nation based on some individuals,” he said, adding that Israel should be regarded as a friend of Thailand rather than an enemy.
But his comments about the floods quickly became the most controversial part of the appearance.
In a Facebook post two days before the gathering, Sittichoke linked Thailand’s days of heavy rain and flooding to protests in which demonstrators had allegedly “cursed Israel.” He warned that Thailand could face “far greater damage” if the protests continued.
Asked directly whether he believed the floods were connected to the protests, Sittichoke said the situation 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 acknowledging that the timing could be a coincidence.
“For me, I don’t believe in coincidence. I believe there is something wrong,” he added.
He subsequently referred to Zechariah 2:9, a biblical passage, when questioned further about the flooding.
The comments have drawn ridicule and criticism online, with social-media users questioning the suggestion that a major natural disaster could be divine punishment linked to political demonstrations.
Thailand’s authorities have attributed the flooding to prolonged heavy rainfall, runoff and related weather conditions rather than any connection to Israel or the protests. The Thai Meteorological Department had warned of heavy to very heavy rain across much of the country as a low-pressure system moved across Thailand and the southwest monsoon strengthened.
The flooding has affected Bangkok and dozens of provinces, with hundreds of thousands of households affected. Bangkok authorities declared all 50 districts disaster areas on Sept. 25 before ending the designation in 21 districts as conditions improved. Twenty-nine districts remained affected as of Sept. 29.
Government data and international reports have linked the crisis to exceptionally heavy rainfall. Reuters reported that Bangkok received around 320 millimetres of rain over three days, while flooding affected 42 provinces and caused significant economic damage.
Sittichoke’s remarks came as he and his supporters sought to send a different message outside the Israeli Embassy: that Thailand’s population should not be judged by the actions or views of individual protesters.
He said his group wanted to show that “not all Thai citizens in this country hate Israel” and that there were Thais willing to publicly express support for Israel.
The pastor describes himself as a Zionist on biblical grounds, while his Bright Romance Facebook page has more than one million followers.
His flood comments, however, have placed his religious interpretation of the disaster at the centre of attention, amid a devastating flood emergency that Thai authorities have attributed to weather and hydrological conditions.
