South Korea challenges Israel over flotilla detainees

President Lee Jae Myung turned a consular dispute into a public diplomatic challenge on May 20 when he condemned Israel’s seizure of Korean activists aboard Gaza-bound aid vessels and invoked the International Criminal Court warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A day later, South Korea’s presidential office said Israel had released two Korean nationals and deported them without placing them in detention facilities. The episode put Seoul, a U.S. ally that is also a state party to the Rome Statute, into a widening dispute over how governments respond to the ICC case against Netanyahu. It also followed broader criticism from several countries over Israel’s treatment of flotilla activists after a video posted by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir circulated online. ### Which Koreans were detained, and where were they seized? The Korean nationals were aboard two separate vessels linked to pro-Palestinian aid efforts, according to South Korean media reports citing the presidential office and civic groups. The Lina al-Nabulsi, carrying Korean activist Kim Ah-hyun and Korean American Jonathan Victor Lee, was intercepted by the Israeli military near Gaza at 2:50 a.m. Tuesday, Korea time, The Korea Times reported. (koreatimes.co.kr) Another vessel, the Kyriakos X, had been seized on Monday in international waters near Cyprus, with Korean national Kim Dong-hyun among those detained. Cheong Wa Dae said on May 21 that Israel released two Korean nationals captured aboard those vessels. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said the release followed South Korea’s consular and diplomatic efforts and that the two were expected to arrive in Korea on Friday. ### What exactly did Lee Jae Myung say about Israel’s actions? (koreatimes.co.kr) At a weekly Cabinet meeting on May 20, Lee said Israel’s detention of Korean nationals was “way out of line” and questioned the legal basis for intercepting third-country vessels in waters outside Israeli territory. He said, “There are even minimum international norms, and they are violating all of them,” according to The Korea Times. (koreatimes.co.kr) Lee also drew a distinction between the activists’ decision to join the flotilla and the government’s duty to protect them. He said the activists may have acted against Seoul’s policies and recommendations, but “in any case, it is correct that our citizens were detained for reasons that are not justified under international law,” The Korea Times reported. (koreatimes.co.kr) ### Why did Netanyahu’s ICC warrant enter the dispute? Lee raised the ICC warrant during the same Cabinet meeting. According to The Korea Times, he asked National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac whether European countries had said they would arrest Netanyahu if he entered their territories and added that South Korea “should also consider making our own judgment.” Wi replied, “We will review the matter.” (koreatimes.co.kr) The ICC said on Nov. 21, 2024 that Pre-Trial Chamber I issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant after rejecting Israel’s jurisdictional challenges. South Korea is one of 125 states parties to the Rome Statute, the ICC’s treaty base, according to the court’s Assembly of States Parties website. (koreatimes.co.kr) ### How did Seoul describe Israel’s release of the detainees? Kang Yu-jung said on May 21 that Lee’s government expressed “strong regret” over Israel’s capture of Korean citizens and “highly appreciates and welcomes” their prompt release. She said Israel released the two Koreans directly and deported them without sending them to detention facilities. (icc-cpi.int) Kang also said the Israeli government had expressed hope that the incident would not affect bilateral relations and that ties would continue to develop. She said Seoul would respond “in a principled and responsible manner” to protect its citizens and address international human rights issues. (koreatimes.co.kr) ### How broad was the backlash over the flotilla detentions? Italy, France, the Netherlands and Canada were among countries that summoned Israeli ambassadors or publicly protested after Ben-Gvir posted video of detained activists kneeling with their hands tied, according to Al Jazeera. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the images “unacceptable,” while Canada’s Anita Anand said Ottawa was treating the matter with “absolute urgency.” (koreatimes.co.kr) South Korea’s protest developed in that wider setting, but Seoul’s intervention stood out because Lee paired a demand for the release of Korean nationals with a public reference to the ICC warrant against Netanyahu. The next immediate step was logistical rather than legal: the two released Koreans were due back in South Korea on Friday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the presidential office. (koreatimes.co.kr) (aljazeera.com)