Lee Jae-myung Voices Concern Over Renewed Gaza Airstrikes, Urges Ceasefire
President Lee Jae-myung Expresses Concern Over Renewed Gaza Airstrikes, Urges Ceasefire
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung expressed deep concern on October 28, 2025 (local time) over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's order to resume airstrikes on Gaza, and urged an immediate ceasefire. President Lee emphasized that the South Korean government will exert all diplomatic efforts to prevent the sacrifice of innocent civilians and prevent further escalation. He noted that the resumption of airstrikes occurred only 18 days after a ceasefire agreement brokered with difficulty by U.S. President Donald Trump, raising serious concerns within the international community.
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced that Benjamin Netanyahu, after an emergency meeting with security officials, ordered an immediate and forceful response in Gaza. The decision was triggered by the discovery that one of the bodies handed over by Hamas was not of a hostage being held captive, but rather partial remains of a hostage who had already been repatriated. The Israeli government strongly protested Hamas's deception and insisted on the need for inevitable measures to protect its citizens. However, some in the international community are voicing concerns that Israel's excessive response could provoke further retaliatory attacks and further worsen the situation.
Hamas immediately protested Israel's attack order and announced the postponement of the scheduled handover of hostage remains. The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, warned in a statement that if Israel expands its attacks in Gaza, the search and recovery of bodies would be hampered. The Al-Qassam Brigades also claimed that the repatriation of the remains of Israeli soldiers killed in action would be delayed, and made it clear that they would not succumb to Israeli military pressure. This hardline stance by Hamas suggests that significant difficulties are expected in future negotiations with Israel.
The confusion in the process of handing over the remains, which triggered this situation, is assessed as an event that clearly reveals the deep distrust between the two sides. Israel suspects that Hamas intentionally concealed the hostage's remains and tried to use them as a bargaining chip. On the other hand, Hamas claims that it was a mistake in the process of identifying the bodies and that there was no intentional deception. However, Israel has not accepted Hamas's explanation and is escalating pressure on Hamas through a strong military response. This tit-for-tat confrontation is further escalating tensions in Gaza and increasing international concerns.
With the ceasefire brokered with difficulty by U.S. President Donald Trump collapsing in just 18 days, the international community is once again facing uncertainty in the Middle East peace process. In particular, this incident is raising doubts about the diplomatic efforts of the U.S. President and is being analyzed as a factor that could lower expectations for the future U.S. mediation role. Recognizing the seriousness of this situation, President Lee Jae-myung instructed relevant departments to activate all possible diplomatic channels and work to restore the ceasefire. The South Korean government plans to continue its efforts to restore peace and stability in Gaza in close cooperation with the international community.
