Korean Activists Detained by Israeli Forces During Gaza Aid Mission

Two Korean activists, Haecho (Kim Ah-hyun) and Jonathan Seungjun Lee (a Korean-American), have been detained by Israeli forces while participating in a Gaza aid flotilla. Their vessel, the 'Rina Nabulsi', was intercepted in international waters approximately 118 nautical miles from the Gaza Strip. The activists were reportedly transferred to Ashdod Port in Israel for questioning before facing deportation. Haecho, who had previously been detained and deported after participating in a similar flotilla last year, was part of a group attempting to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza's blockaded population. The Israeli military has stated that non-lethal measures were used as a warning, without targeting or injuring protesters. This incident occurred as part of a larger operation where Israel intercepted a total of 50 flotilla vessels and detained 428 participants from over 40 countries. Another Korean activist, Donghyun, aboard the 'Kyriakos X', was also detained earlier. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed it is aware of the situation and is providing necessary consular support to its nationals. The detention of these activists highlights the ongoing tensions and challenges faced by those attempting to deliver aid to Gaza, drawing international attention and condemnation from several countries.

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested that the Israeli authorities prioritize the safety of our nationals and take necessary measures immediately after becoming aware of the detention of the vessel carrying our citizens.