Israel has released two South Korean human rights activists who were detained while traveling on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. The South Korean presidential office in Seoul confirmed the release, identifying the activists as Kim Ah-hyun and Jonathan Victor Lee. They were detained by Israeli forces from a vessel in international waters.

According to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said Israel did not send the two citizens to a detention center and instead repatriated them immediately. Kang added that the government of Lee Jae-myung expressed strong displeasure over the detention of its nationals during the vessel seizure but appreciated Israel’s prompt decision to release them.

The report, citing Al Jazeera as its source, noted that the South Korean government welcomed the release and valued Israel’s cooperation in resolving the matter swiftly.