President Lee Jae Myung gestures during a Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday at the presidential office in Seoul. Yonhap
President Lee Jae Myung reacted furiously to Israel’s interception and detention of two Korean activists aboard separate ships on a humanitarian mission bound for the Gaza Strip. Calling Israel’s actions “unlawful, excessive and inhumane,” Lee went further, suggesting that Korea should join countries calling for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Lee’s emotional — perhaps even erratic and undiplomatic — rhetoric is expected to trigger another rift with Israel, following his resharing earlier this year of a social media post containing a video of Israeli soldiers that initially included an inaccurate caption.
During a livestreamed Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Lee pressed National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac to answer a series of pointed questions about the incident. Lee argued that Israel had unlawfully intercepted and detained aid workers from third countries, including Korea, in international waters.
“Is it fair for Israel to act like this?” Lee asked bluntly. Wi responded cautiously, saying the issue was more complicated than it appeared. Lee persisted, asking whether Israel was authorized to conduct a naval blockade in international waters and pressing the senior official to respond directly. “Is the Gaza Strip their territory?” Lee asked. Wi again avoided giving a direct answer, explaining that the issue was complex and noting that the conflict began after Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,195 people and taking 251 hostages.
