Israel and South Korea at odds over allegations of Palestinian abuse

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has shared a video of alleged Israeli army abuse of Palestinians, sparking international criticism from Israel.

The video, verified by Al Jazeera, shows Israeli soldiers pushing an apparently lifeless Palestinian man from a rooftop in the occupied West Bank town of Qabatiya in September 2024. Three Palestinians were thrown from the roof that day, prompting widespread outrage.

Lee Jae Myung posted the video on X, stating he needed to investigate whether it was true and what measures had been taken. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the incident as a “crime” exposing Israeli army brutality under international law.

Israel’s foreign ministry responded by saying the case had been investigated and addressed, but did not provide details or indicate any punishment for soldiers involved. Data from Action on Armed Violence shows that Israel has closed 88% of investigations into abuses by its forces in Gaza and the occupied West Bank without charges or findings of wrongdoing.

Lee Jae Myung’s sharing of the video triggered a public row with Israel’s foreign ministry, which criticized him directly. The South Korean president responded to criticism, saying it was disappointing that Israel did not reflect on criticisms from people around the world who are suffering due to alleged anti-human rights and anti-international law actions.

Source: Al Jazeera