South Korean President Criticises Israel’s Seizure Of Gaza-Bound Vessels

SEOUL, May 20 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday criticised Israel's seizure of humanitarian aid vessels bound for the Gaza Strip carrying activists, including South Korean nationals, accusing Israel of violating international regulations. 

Lee voiced the criticism at a Cabinet meeting after a civic group said the Lina Al Nabulsi, carrying South Korean activist Kim Ah-hyun and Korean American activist Jonathan Victor Lee, was intercepted by the Israeli military in waters near the Gaza Strip at 2.50 am Wednesday, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The seizure came two days after Israeli forces intercepted another aid vessel, the Kyriakos X, which was carrying South Korean activist Kim Dong-hyeon, along with others from around the world.

Lee described the latest seizure as "inhumane and extreme," arguing that the location where the vessel was intercepted was not part of Israel's territorial waters.

"We have been patient too long ... (they) have gone too far," Lee said, questioning the legality of the seizure and instructing the government to address the issue "strictly by the rule."

Lee went on to ask whether the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to which National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac replied that it had. Lee then said this made Netanyahu "a war criminal."

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Gaza, including starvation and murder.

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP