SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT SPARKS DIPLOMATIC ROW WITH ISRAEL OVER 2024 WEST BANK VIDEO South Korea’s

SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT SPARKS DIPLOMATIC ROW WITH ISRAEL OVER 2024 WEST BANK VIDEO South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung has triggered a diplomatic dispute with Israel after sharing a 2024 video on social media that allegedly shows Israeli soldiers pushing a body off a building in the occupied West Bank. The post, shared on the platform X, has been condemned by Israel as misleading and inflammatory, while Seoul has defended the president’s intention as highlighting human rights concerns. President Lee shared footage said to be from a 2024 incident in the West Bank, which appears to show Israeli soldiers during a military operation involving the handling of a body on a rooftop.

In his post, Lee called for verification of the incident, stating that if the footage was accurate, accountability measures should be reviewed. He also linked the broader issue to historical atrocities, referencing wartime killings and past human rights abuses in a statement that drew further international attention. The Israeli Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the post, accusing the South Korean president of spreading misinformation and misrepresenting a previously investigated military operation.

Israeli officials said the video relates to an incident from September 2024 during a counter-terror operation in the West Bank, which had already been reviewed by authorities at the time.

The ministry further criticised Lee for presenting the clip as current and for making comments it said risked inflaming tensions, especially during sensitive historical commemorations.

Officials also urged world leaders to verify information before publishing it on social media According to reports, the footage originates from a military operation in the occupied West Bank where Israeli forces were engaged in clashes with armed individuals. The incident had previously sparked international concern, with human rights discussions surrounding the handling of bodies after combat operations. However, Israel maintains that the operation occurred under combat conditions and was investigated internally. The exchange has added strain to already complex diplomatic relations between South Korea and Israel, both of which maintain longstanding formal ties.

While Israel accuses the South Korean leader of amplifying disinformation, Seoul has suggested that its position is grounded in broader concerns over human rights and international humanitarian law The controversy has also sparked debate within South Korea, with supporters praising the president for speaking on human rights issues, while critics argue he should be more cautious in handling unverified or sensitive content.

International observers say the incident highlights the risks world leaders face when using social media to comment on active geopolitical conflicts. The dispute underscores rising global tensions over the Israel–Palestine conflict, the role of digital information in diplomacy, and the political consequences of leaders sharing sensitive or disputed footage online.