Israel releases captured Korean nationals following president’s criticism

President Lee Jae Myung presides over a meeting with senior presidential aides at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Israel has released two Korean nationals who were captured while heading for the Gaza Strip aboard humanitarian aid ships, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday.

Their release came a day after President Lee Jae Myung criticized Israel for capturing the two as a violation of international norms, while also pointing to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and referring to him as a “war criminal,” in remarks widely seen as unusually direct at the highest diplomatic level.

“The Lee Jae Myung government expresses strong regret over Israel’s capture of our citizens following the seizure of the vessels. At the same time, it highly appreciates and welcomes Israel’s prompt release of our nationals,” presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said during a press briefing.

She referred to two Korean nationals, each aboard separate vessels seized by the Israeli navy in international waters, one near Cyprus on Monday and the other near Gaza on Tuesday.

Kang noted that Lee had expressed concerns over the safety and rights of the Koreans during a Cabinet meeting, Wednesday, and that the government pursued all measures for consular assistance and diplomatic response.

“As a result, Israel released the two Koreans directly without placing them in detention facilities, and instead deported them promptly,” Kang said.

The two are expected to arrive in Korea on Friday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The Israeli government expressed hope that this incident will not affect bilateral relations and that the relationship will continue to develop further," Kang added.

She emphasized that the Lee administration “will respond in a principled and responsible manner to safeguard its citizens, including by addressing international human rights issues,” and added that it will maintain close diplomatic communication with relevant countries.

“The safety and sovereignty of our citizens are of paramount importance,” the spokesperson said. "The Lee Jae Myung government will fulfill its responsibility as an administration that prioritizes and protects the lives and safety of its people."

Regarding Lee’s remarks on the ICC's arrest warrant issued for Netanyahu, Kang explained that they were made to “emphasize the need for an objective understanding of the situation.”

During Wednesday's Cabinet meeting, Lee asked his aides whether nearly all European countries have issued their own arrest warrants for Netanyahu and whether they had announced plans to arrest him if he enters their territory, adding Korea should also consider making its own judgment.

Lee’s criticism of Israel and Netanyahu drew widespread attention, as they were seen as unusually strong comments made at the highest diplomatic level.

The criticism also followed diplomatic unease between Korea and Israel over Lee's social media post in April, in which the president reposted a video depicting Israeli soldiers throwing a body from a building and drew an analogy between the Holocaust and Israel’s human rights violations against Palestinians.

Lee's post drew condemnation from Israel, which found it trivializing of the World War II-era atrocity.

Meanwhile, the Embassy of Israel in Korea claimed Thursday that the flotilla, which included the ships carrying the two Koreans, was not on a humanitarian mission but was attempting to undermine U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to bring peace to the region.

The flotilla is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a grassroots movement composed of campaigns and initiatives protesting Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

"We stress that this flotilla is not humanitarian in nature, and that no form of humanitarian assistance materials was found on the participating vessels," the embassy said in a statement.

The embassy pointed out that the U.S. has imposed sanctions on individuals associated with the flotilla.

It also said Israel has been blockading waters near Gaza in ways that abide by international law.