[ED] Intolerable war crimes by Israel – The Korea Times

Kim Ah-hyun and Kim Dong-hyun, activists who were detained by Israeli forces after boarding a humanitarian aid vessel bound for the Gaza Strip, speak to reporters upon arriving at Incheon International Airport, May 22.

Testimonies from international activists detained and deported by Israeli forces after boarding a Gaza-bound humanitarian vessel have provoked outrage far beyond the Middle East. According to several activists, including two Korean participants, they were beaten while kneeling with their hands restrained, repeatedly struck in the face and subjected to electric shocks, confinement and even sexual humiliation. Some reported injuries severe enough to cause hearing loss. Video released after the incident appears to show activists face down on the floor while Israeli soldiers violently grab and restrain them.

If these allegations are true, this was not merely a harsh security operation. It was an act of state violence that directly challenges the most basic principles of international human rights. CNN reported that the Israel Prison Service told it the “allegations raised are false and entirely without factual basis” and that it “operates in accordance with the law.”

There may be legitimate debate over the tactics and judgment of humanitarian flotillas attempting to reach Gaza. Any vessel approaching a blockaded conflict zone must anticipate the possibility of military interception. But no circumstances can justify the abuse of unarmed civilians. Even in war, the protection of civilians remains a foundational principle of international law. The Geneva Conventions require humane treatment not only of civilians but even prisoners of war. Allegations of physical assault, torture and sexual abuse cannot be excused under any legal or moral framework.

More troubling still is that this incident appears not to be an isolated incident, but part of a broader pattern. Over the past two and a half years, Gaza has been transformed into a landscape of devastation. Hospitals, schools and refugee camps have repeatedly come under attack. Food, medicine and humanitarian aid have been severely restricted. Thousands of civilians, including children, have lost their lives, and even international aid workers have become casualties of the conflict. It is no coincidence that increasing numbers of governments, legal experts and human rights organizations now use terms such as “war crimes†and even “genocide†in describing the situation.

Yet instead of reflection or restraint, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right coalition have responded to criticism by dismissing it as antisemitism. Such rhetoric avoids accountability while deepening Israel's growing international isolation.

Netanyahu, in particular, cannot escape political responsibility for the prolonged war. Long before the current conflict, he was already facing corruption charges and mounting legal troubles, while his fragile coalition government depended heavily on extremist allies — conditions which made the continuation of war politically advantageous. Each escalation allowed him to present himself as the indispensable guardian of national security while postponing both domestic scrutiny and legal liability.

Indeed, whenever ceasefire negotiations or international mediation efforts emerged, Netanyahu repeatedly chose military escalation over compromise. The longer the war continues, the longer accountability can be delayed. For many observers, it has become increasingly difficult to separate the immense suffering of Palestinian civilians from the political survival instincts of one embattled leader.

Perhaps most disturbing is the growing triumphalism displayed by elements within Israel's far-right leadership. One minister circulated footage of restrained activists kneeling on the floor while declaring, “We are the owners here.†Such remarks are not simply reckless provocations. They reflect a dangerous political culture that increasingly dehumanizes both Palestinians and international critics alike.

As this attitude hardens, it is hardly surprising that global sympathy for Israel is eroding. This concerns not only Israel's government but Jewish communities worldwide.

Antisemitism remains a grave evil that must be firmly condemned wherever it appears. Criticism of Israeli government policy should never become hatred toward Jews as a people. But much of today's international outrage is not directed at Jewish identity; it is directed at the Netanyahu government's conduct of war, its disregard for civilian suffering and its repeated defiance of international norms.

A people whose own history carries the memory of persecution should understand better than most the moral danger of becoming indifferent to the suffering of others. When a government responds to a mounting humanitarian catastrophe with arrogance rather than introspection, it risks destroying its own moral legitimacy.

Israel must recognize that military force alone cannot deliver lasting security or peace. A strategy built on collective punishment and the suppression of humanitarian aid efforts will produce only deeper resentment. Fear can be imposed through power, but respect cannot.

The international community, meanwhile, must shake off its paralysis. The allegations of war crimes and abuses against civilians demand independent investigation and meaningful diplomatic pressure. Without such action, the tragedy unfolding in Gaza will not remain confined to Palestinians alone. It will further erode the credibility of the international order.