Israel: "Naval Blockade of Gaza Is Lawful... Korean-Boarded Vessel Was a 'Provocation,' Not Humanitarian"

Office of the President and Foreign Ministry: "Israel Expressed Hope for Further Development of Relations"


Controversy Erupts Over Embassy's De Facto Rebuttal Statement

The Embassy of Israel in Korea stated on May 21, "Israel is enforcing a legitimate maritime blockade on the Gaza Strip in accordance with international law and for lawful military purposes." This statement was made in response to President Lee Jaemyung’s remarks the previous day, in which he questioned whether an official complaint should be made after a humanitarian flotilla headed for Gaza was seized by the Israeli military. The embassy also took a firm stance regarding the vessel carrying Korean activists, claiming that it was a 'provocation' against Israel, rather than a humanitarian effort. Previously, the government had announced that Israel had conveyed a message expressing hope for improved relations, but with this effectively oppositional and aggressive statement, further controversy is expected.

View of the Gaza Strip as seen from Israel. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

That afternoon, in response to an inquiry about the 'legality of the maritime blockade on the Gaza Strip,' the Embassy of Israel in Korea stated, "The United Nations Secretary-General’s Panel of Inquiry's Palmer Report regarding the Gaza Flotilla incident of May 31, 2010, recognized the blockade as legitimate."

The embassy explained, "While Israel recognizes freedom of navigation on the high seas, the authority to seize a flotilla is grounded in international law, as stipulated in documents such as the San Remo Manual (1994) and the Law of Naval Warfare." The embassy asserted, "The Law of Naval Warfare establishes the right to seize ships that attempt to breach a blockade on the high seas, regardless of their distance from the blockaded area, and this is consistent with Israel’s past actions." Additionally, the embassy argued, "In this case, given the unique circumstances such as the size and scale of the flotilla and the heightened risk of escalating tensions, prompt action in accordance with international law was required to effectively enforce a legitimate maritime blockade, as mandated by international law."

The embassy further stated, "As emphasized by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury two days ago, this flotilla—which included Korean nationals—was an attempt to undermine President Trump's efforts for regional peace. The United States has imposed sanctions on individuals associated with this flotilla."

The embassy maintained an aggressive stance, saying, "We want to make it clear that this flotilla was not humanitarian in nature, and no humanitarian aid materials of any kind were found on the participating vessels. Rather, this was a provocation intended to attack Israel and distract it from its mission of fighting terrorism."

Earlier, during the process of the Korean activist being detained and subsequently released by the Israeli military, Kang Yoojung, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, and Park Il, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated, "We have conveyed a message expressing hope that this incident will not affect Korea-Israel relations and that our relationship will continue to develop."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.