President Lee Orders Review of Netanyahu Arrest Warrant, Says Israel Has Gone Too Far

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[Financial News] President Lee Jae-myung said on the 20th that South Korea should consider the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in connection with Israel's seizure of a Gaza Strip-bound ship and the detention of South Korean nationals, adding, "Let's make our own judgment."
At the 22nd Cabinet meeting and 9th Emergency Economic Review Meeting held that day at the main building of Cheong Wa Dae, President Lee said, "Isn't there already an arrest warrant issued for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu?"
Referring to Israel's seizure of a third-country vessel heading to the Gaza Strip and the arrest of its crew, Lee asked, "Is that Israeli territory? It is not Israeli territorial waters, is it?" Wi Sung-lac, Director of the Office of National Security, replied, "It is neither territorial waters nor territory," but added that "Israel is carrying out military operations toward the area and exercising military control."
Lee said, "If there is a conflict, can you seize a third-country ship and take people away?" He added, "Isn't there basic common sense? This is also a matter of boundaries."
He then raised the issue of the ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu. When Lee asked, "Hasn't he already been recognized as a war criminal, with an arrest warrant issued?" Wi Sung-lac answered, "There is an arrest warrant."
In 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza Strip war.
Lee stressed, "I'm saying this because they detained our citizens. We advised them not to do it, which is an internal matter for us, but in any case, they took our citizens for reasons that were not legally justified."
He added, "In my view, this is too much. It is too inhumane," and ordered officials to "assess the situation accurately."
Lee said, "Didn't many European countries announce that they would arrest Netanyahu if he entered their territory after issuing arrest warrants? Let's make our own judgment." When Wi said, "We will review it," Lee replied, "Act by principle. We have been too patient."
He went on to say, "This has gone far too far," and repeated that "there are minimum international norms, and they are being violated."
west@fnnews.com Sung Seok-woo Reporter