Israel frees two South Koreans seized from Gaza-bound aid vessels
Synopsis
Israel seized two Gaza-bound vessels carrying South Korean activists and then swiftly deported them — no detention centre, no charges. Seoul welcomed the release but registered 'strong regret,' while Israel flatly rejected the 'humanitarian' label and called the flotilla a deliberate provocation. The episode puts a quiet but real strain on Seoul-Tel Aviv ties at a diplomatically sensitive moment.
Key Takeaways
Israel released two South Korean nationals on 22 May 2025 after intercepting their Gaza-bound vessels.
Activists Kim Ah-hyun and Jonathan Victor Lee were aboard the Lina Al Nabulsi ; Kim Dong-hyeon was on the Kyriakos X .
Seoul expressed 'strong regret' over the initial detention but welcomed the immediate deportation without detention.
The Israeli Embassy in South Korea denied the flotilla was humanitarian, calling it a 'provocation' against Israel's counter-terrorism mission.
The two activists were expected to return to South Korea on Friday morning via a third country.
South Korea on Thursday, 22 May 2025, welcomed the release of two of its nationals detained by Israel after their vessels were intercepted in waters near the Gaza Strip while reportedly en route to deliver humanitarian aid. The South Korean presidential office confirmed the release, noting that both individuals were deported immediately without being held in a detention centre.
How the Detentions Unfolded
The sequence of interceptions began when Israeli forces seized the vessel Kyriakos X, which was carrying South Korean activist Kim Dong-hyeon along with other international activists. Two days later, the Lina Al Nabulsi was intercepted in the same waters, with South Korean activist Kim Ah-hyun and Korean American activist Jonathan Victor Lee aboard. Both vessels were stopped by the Israeli military before reaching the Gaza Strip.
Seoul's Official Response
Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung announced the release at a press briefing, conveying a carefully calibrated message. 'The Lee Jae Myung government expresses strong regret over Israel's detention of our nationals during its seizure (of vessels). However, it highly appreciates Israel's immediate release of our nationals and welcomes this (decision),' Kang said. The spokesperson added that the government would pursue 'principled and responsible measures' alongside diplomatic communication to safeguard its citizens abroad.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Park Il confirmed that Seoul had repeatedly urged Israel to prioritise the safety of the two nationals and sought their release without detention. 'Israel also conveyed its hope that this issue will not affect bilateral relations and that the ties will continue to develop further,' Park said, signalling that both sides are keen to contain the diplomatic fallout.
Israel's Position on the Flotilla
The Israeli Embassy in South Korea pushed back firmly on the characterisation of the vessels as humanitarian in nature. 'This flotilla is not of a humanitarian nature, and we plainly highlight that no type of humanitarian aid was found in the participating ships,' the embassy said in a statement. 'This is rather a provocation designed to attack Israel and to divert it from its mission of fighting against terrorism.' The embassy also asserted that its naval blockade of the Gaza Strip is being conducted legally and in accordance with international law.
What Happens Next
The two activists were expected to arrive back in South Korea on Friday morning via a third country, according to the foreign ministry. Seoul has indicated it will maintain close diplomatic communication with Israel going forward. Notably, the incident adds to a pattern of international flotilla attempts toward Gaza that have drawn Israeli military interceptions, raising recurring questions about the legal and humanitarian boundaries of the blockade.
Point of View
Yet it cannot afford a rupture with Israel. What is missing from both governments' statements is any engagement with the substantive legal dispute: whether the naval blockade meets the proportionality standard under international humanitarian law. Israel's flat denial that the vessels carried any aid, if accurate, does shift the legal calculus — but that claim has not been independently verified. The pattern of flotilla interceptions is now a recurring diplomatic flashpoint, and without a multilateral framework to adjudicate such incidents, each episode will replay this same cycle of seizure, release, and carefully worded regret.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were the South Korean nationals detained by Israel?
Israeli forces intercepted two vessels — the Kyriakos X and the Lina Al Nabulsi — that were reportedly heading toward the Gaza Strip. Israel stated the ships were not carrying humanitarian aid and described the flotilla as a provocation, detaining the activists aboard before deporting them.
Who were the South Korean activists on the intercepted vessels?
Activist Kim Dong-hyeon was aboard the Kyriakos X, while activist Kim Ah-hyun and Korean American activist Jonathan Victor Lee were on the Lina Al Nabulsi. All three were released and deported without being placed in a detention centre.
How did South Korea respond to the detentions?
The South Korean presidential office, through spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, expressed 'strong regret' over the initial detention while welcoming Israel's decision to release and immediately deport the nationals. The foreign ministry said it had repeatedly urged Israel to prioritise the safety of its citizens.
What is Israel's justification for intercepting the vessels?
The Israeli Embassy in South Korea stated that no humanitarian aid was found on the ships and characterised the flotilla as a deliberate provocation. Israel also maintained that its naval blockade of Gaza is being conducted legally and in line with international law.
When will the released activists return to South Korea?
According to the South Korean foreign ministry, the two activists were expected to arrive back in South Korea on Friday morning, travelling via a third country after their release.
