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Korean-Israeli Diplomatic Rift
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ignited a diplomatic firestorm with Israel after sharing a 2024 video showing Israeli soldiers pushing a Palestinian body off a building.
“Israel has criticised South Korea’s president for sharing video of violence against Palestinians by the Israeli army”
Israel's Foreign Ministry condemned the remarks as unacceptable and warrant strong condemnation.
The ministry accused Lee of citing a fake account and noted the incident had been thoroughly investigated and addressed two years ago.
Lee responded by acknowledging the video was from September 2024 but insisted even a corpse deserves better treatment.
South Korea's Foreign Ministry attempted to ease tensions, saying Lee's comments reflected a broader appeal for universal human rights.
Historical Comparisons and Backlash
Lee's comparison drew sharp criticism from Israel and sparked debate within South Korea.
The ruling Democratic Party defended Lee, while opposition figures called it a diplomatic disaster.
The Korean community in Israel expressed concerns about potential backlash.
Geopolitical expert Dr. Kobby Barda said the spat was less about Israel and more about South Korea's energy pressures.
Human Rights Watch had reported that Israel committed war crimes during the 2025 conflict.
Video Incident and Investigation
The video showed Israeli soldiers pushing an apparently lifeless Palestinian man from a rooftop in Qabatiya in September 2024.
Three Palestinians were thrown from the roof that day, sparking widespread outrage.
The body was not a child but an adult terrorist killed in an active firefight.
The IDF condemned the incident and opened an investigation.
Data from Action on Armed Violence shows Israel has closed 88 percent of investigations without charges.
Public and Political Reactions
The incident triggered a rare diplomatic dispute between two countries with relations spanning 60 years.
Social media users were divided, with some praising Lee's stance and others criticizing him.
The controversy played out in South Korean domestic politics.
The Korean community in Israel expressed concerns about potential backlash.
The episode underscored the challenge of balancing human rights messaging with diplomatic caution.
