(Photo d’archives Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 20 (Yonhap) — Israeli forces boarded another humanitarian aid flotilla heading to the Gaza Strip with two activists from a South Korean civic group on board, the flotilla said.
The Lina Al Nabulsi, carrying South Korean Kim Ah-hyun and Korean-American Jonathan Victor Lee, was intercepted by the Israeli army off the coast of the Gaza Strip today around 2:50 a.m. (South Korean time), according to the Korean Free Palestine Flotilla.
The seizure came after Israeli forces on Monday boarded the Kyriakos X humanitarian flotilla that included activist Kim Dong-hyeon among other activists from different parts of the world, according to the group.
A civic group official said Israeli forces chose to detain those on board and sink the boats, rather than tow them as they had previously done.
Kim Dong-hyeon is expected to arrive at an Israeli port soon, the official said, adding that it would take longer for the group’s two other activists.
The Kyriakos X left a Greek port on May 8 while the Lina Al Nabulsi set sail from Italy on May 2.
The South Korean nationals were heading to Gaza despite the South Korean government’s ban on travel to the region.
Kim Ah-hyun had his passport revoked by the South Korean government after his previous attempt to enter the country without authorization last October. At the time, she had been detained by Israeli forces before being released.
South Koreans are banned from traveling or staying in the Gaza Strip without government permission, and violators face up to a year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won ($6,685) under the Passport Law.
lsr@yna.co.kr
(FIN)
