Lee Criticizes Israel's Gaza Actions as 'Excessive,' Cites Sovereignty Violation

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has strongly criticized Israel's actions in Gaza, describing them as "excessive" and "too much."

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The Israeli military's somewhat excessive actions in the Gaza Strip were so excessive that I thought, 'This is too much.'

During a press conference marking his first year in office, Lee stated that Israel's conduct in the Gaza Strip had reached a point where it was "too much to bear."

He further elaborated that Israel's subsequent actions, including the seizure of a South Korean national, constituted a violation of sovereignty and international law, making it an unacceptable issue to overlook. Lee pointed out that the incident involved the capture of a citizen on the high seas, an area where freedom of navigation is guaranteed, effectively amounting to a kidnapping.

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There was also a violation of human rights afterward, wasn't there? An act of human rights violation that is difficult to easily accept or tolerate.

Lee also touched upon the seizure of a ship, noting that Iran had denied being the perpetrator, leaving the matter in the realm of speculation. He emphasized that South Korea's criticism stemmed from these perceived violations of international norms, sovereignty, and human rights.

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It was also a matter of international norms. They seized it on the high seas, didn't they? In a place where freedom of navigation is guaranteed, they effectively kidnapped our citizen. We cannot help but point out that issue.