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Activists Kim Ah-hyun and Kim Dong-hyun, who were detained by the Israeli military after boarding a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, answer questions from reporters upon arriving at Incheon International Airport on May 22. / Photo courtesy of Yonhap News

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on May 22 that it views the alleged human rights abuses by Israeli authorities against South Korean activists aboard a Gaza aid flotilla with deep gravity and has formally conveyed this assessment to the Israeli government.

In a notice distributed to reporters, the ministry announced, "The government regards the testimonies of our citizens concerning physical assaults by the Israeli military with the utmost seriousness. Following a thorough verification of the facts, we will pursue measures commensurate with the severity of the incident."

Kim Ah-hyun, one of the returned activists, described the circumstances during a press conference at Incheon International Airport earlier that morning. "Our vessel was among the last to be interdicted," Kim said. "The Israeli forces were highly agitated, and many individuals had already been assaulted inside the detention facility. I was struck in the face multiple times, leaving me with impaired hearing in my left ear."

Fellow activist Kim Dong-hyun expressed similar condemnation upon arrival. "Israel’s actions constitute an intolerable level of violence, involving the hijacking of unarmed vessels in international waters and the subsequent torture and unlawful detention of civilians," Kim asserted. "While Israel maintains that these measures were legally justified, I must emphasize that such claims are entirely false."

Kim Ah-hyun was intercepted and detained by the Israeli military on May 19 in waters near the Gaza Strip, while Kim Dong-hyun was apprehended on May 18 near Cyprus. Both activists were released without facing formal charges on May 20 and returned to South Korea on the morning of May 22.

                                                                                                          Mok Yong-jae