South Korean President Lee Jae Myung publicly criticized Israel on Saturday, accusing the country of failing to acknowledge allegations of human rights violations by its military forces. This came after Israel condemned Lee for spreading what it described as social media disinformation.
The controversy began when Lee commented on a viral social media video purportedly showing Israeli soldiers torturing and pushing a Palestinian child off a roof. Lee stated on the platform X that he needed to verify the video’s authenticity and determine what actions had been taken if the claims were true.
The video’s origin could not be immediately verified, but it appeared to depict a different angle of an incident recorded by AFPTV in the West Bank two years ago. During that event, reporters witnessed an Israeli soldier pushing the body of a deceased adult man off a roof with his foot. In 2024, the White House described the footage as “deeply disturbing” and demanded an explanation from Israel amid escalating raids in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967.
Israel’s foreign ministry responded on Saturday, stating the incident had already been investigated and addressed. The ministry accused President Lee of reviving a 2024 story and misrepresenting it as a recent event. It further claimed the social media account sharing the video was known for spreading anti-Israeli falsehoods.
In an effort to ease tensions, South Korea’s foreign ministry issued a statement clarifying that Lee’s post, which drew parallels between alleged Israeli abuses and historical atrocities against Jews and Koreans, was intended as a call for universal human rights rather than commentary on a specific issue.
Despite this, Lee posted another pointed message on social media Saturday, responding to Israel’s backlash. He expressed disappointment that Israel had not reflected on global criticism regarding ongoing human rights violations and breaches of international law. Lee emphasized empathy, stating, “When I am in pain, others feel that pain just as deeply.”
South Korea, an ally of Israel’s principal international supporter, the United States, has generally maintained a neutral position on the Middle East conflict, refraining from siding with any party involved.
