A South Korean activist is feared to have been detained after the Israeli Navy intercepted the Gaza-bound Global Sumud aid flotilla in the Mediterranean Sea, according to a report by Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday.
The aid coalition, known for supporting Palestinian liberation efforts, said the vessel Kyriakos X, which was carrying activist Kim Dong-hyeon, was stopped by Israeli naval forces late Monday Seoul time near Cyprus.
The flotilla, made up of more than 50 boats, had departed from Marmaris, a district along Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, on Thursday in a renewed bid to challenge Israel’s blockade on Gaza, which has been in place since 2007.
Organisers stated that Kim is believed to be held aboard an Israeli warship alongside several other international activists following the interception.
Kim had travelled for the mission earlier this month despite a South Korean government restriction prohibiting travel to Gaza without prior official approval.
Meanwhile, another South Korean activist, Kim Ah-hyun, is reportedly aboard a nearby vessel that organisers fear could also be intercepted by Israeli authorities.
Kim Ah-hyun was previously detained by Israeli forces during an earlier Gaza-bound mission in October before being released.
According to organisers, the humanitarian convoy involved 426 participants, including 96 Turkish activists and representatives from 39 countries such as Germany, the United States, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Algeria, Indonesia, Morocco, France, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Canada, Egypt, Pakistan, Tunisia, Oman and New Zealand.
The organisers also recalled that Israeli forces attacked the Global Sumud aid flotilla near the Greek island of Crete during the night between April 29 and April 30.
