Israel releases detained Korean nationals following president’s criticism

Israel has released two Korean nationals who were detained while trying to provide humanitarian aid for Gaza, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday.

Their release came a day after President Lee Jae Myung criticized Israel for detaining the pair in violation of international norms, 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 what was seen as an unusually direct remark at the highest diplomatic level. “The Lee Jae Myung government expresses strong regret over Israel’s detention 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 concern over the safety and rights of the detained Koreans during a Ca