By The South Asia Times

SEOUL - South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday sharply criticized Israeli military authorities on Wednesday over the seizure of a Gaza-bound aid vessel carrying two South Korean nationals, questioning the legality of the operation and drawing a direct link to the international arrest warrant issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to KBS News.

During a Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House, President Lee repeatedly challenged the legal basis for the Israeli military's interception of the vessel Lina al-Nabulsi, which was carrying South Korean activist Kim Ah-hyun and Korean-American activist Jonathan Victor Lee, also known by his stage name Seung-jun.

"Is it acceptable to indiscriminately seize and detain third-country vessels when combat is taking place?" President Lee asked. "What is the legal basis for the seizure? Is that Israeli territorial waters?"

When Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jin-ah informed the meeting that "the Israeli military is monitoring the area nearby," President Lee pressed further: "Did these boats infringe upon Israeli territorial waters or sovereignty? They are heading to the Gaza Strip, which has no relation to Israel. Are you saying they were arrested for infringing upon a monitoring line?"

The President continued, "Shouldn't we naturally determine whether that is illegal or legal? Doesn't anyone know?"

In response, Wi Sung-rak, Director of the National Security Office at the Blue House, explained that "because Israel is conducting military operations and imposing control in the Gaza region, Israel is controlling entry and exit."

President Lee reiterated his objection, asking, "Isn't this not Israeli territorial water?" and demanded, "Shouldn't we protest?"

When Director Wi noted that "there are special circumstances, such as the current situation of engagement and combat," President Lee retorted sharply: "Does engaging in combat mean you can just indiscriminately seize and arrest third-country vessels? Do you not have any basic common sense?"

- President invokes Netanyahu arrest warrant

President Lee then directly referenced the legal troubles facing the Israeli prime minister.

"Isn't an arrest warrant issued for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu? Isn't it issued because he is recognized as a war criminal?" the President asked. "I am saying this because our citizens were taken away."

He further criticized the Israeli action, stating, "Not following government policies or recommendations is our internal matter, but isn't it true that our citizens were taken away for reasons not valid under international law? In my view, it is too severe and inhumane."

Referring again to Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Lee added: "Didn't most European countries announce that they would issue arrest warrants and arrest anyone who enters their country? There were quite a few of them, so let's consider this as well. There are minimum international norms, but aren't they all violating them?"

The President emphasized, "In any case, proceed according to principle," concluding that "this is going too far."

According to the Korean Federation of Voyages for the Liberation of Palestine (KFFP), the Lina al-Nabulsi was intercepted by Israeli forces in waters near the Gaza Strip at approximately 2:50 AM Korean time on May 20.

An official from the organization told KBS that the Israeli military did not confiscate the vessel itself this time, as had occurred in previous incidents. Instead, the official said, "they are taking the passengers by kidnapping them and sinking the ship by destroying its engines and other parts."

The South Korean government announced that it has formally requested Israeli authorities to promptly release and deport the detained South Korean nationals.

The Blue House has not yet indicated whether it will take further diplomatic or legal action in response to the incident, but President Lee's unusually sharp remarks at the Cabinet meeting suggest growing frustration within the administration over Israel's treatment of South Korean citizens.