South Korea president clashes with 'Israel' on rights, disinformation claims

• President Lee Jae Myung criticized 'Israel' over alleged rights abuses and said concerns must be examined seriously.
• 'Israel' rejected the claims, calling them disinformation tied to a misrepresented and older incident.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday accused 'Israel' of failing to adequately address allegations of human rights abuses by its forces, escalating a diplomatic dispute triggered by his social media comments on a widely circulated video.

The exchange comes after 'Israel' condemned Lee for amplifying what it described as disinformation related to an incident in the occupied West Bank.

Viral video sparks controversy

The dispute centers on a social media post shared by Lee referencing a video he said appeared to show 'Israeli' soldiers abusing a Palestinian child and pushing him off a roof.

Lee later said he needed to verify the authenticity of the footage and determine what actions, if any, had been taken.

The video could not be independently verified by AFP. However, it appears to show a different angle of an incident filmed by AFPTV in the West Bank two years ago, where an 'Israeli' soldier was seen using his foot to push the body of a reportedly dead adult man off a roof.

In 2024, the White House described the original footage as “deeply disturbing” and called for clarification from 'Israel' amid ongoing raids in the West Bank, which has been occupied since 1967.

'Israel' rejects claims of disinformation

'Israel’s' foreign ministry rejected Lee’s remarks, saying the incident had already been investigated and addressed.

It accused the South Korean leader of amplifying a false narrative and said the account referenced by Lee was known for spreading disinformation about 'Israel'.

The ministry said Lee had revived an outdated case and presented it as a current event, escalating tensions between the two sides.

Seoul attempts to ease tensions

South Korea’s foreign ministry moved to contain the fallout, stressing that Lee’s comments were intended as a broader statement on universal human rights rather than a direct accusation against 'Israel'.

Officials in Seoul emphasized the country’s traditionally balanced position on Middle East conflicts and its alliance with the United States, 'Israel’s' key international partner.

Lee doubles down on criticism

Despite diplomatic pushback, Lee issued another statement on social media criticizing 'Israel’s' response.

He said it was “disappointing” that the international community’s concerns over alleged human rights violations were not being reflected upon.

“When I am in pain, others feel that pain just as deeply,” Lee wrote, reinforcing his call for accountability and further scrutiny of the allegations.