They were Kim Dong-hyeon, who was aboard the Gaza-bound humanitarian aid vessel Kyriakos X when it was seized by the Israeli navy in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea near Cyprus last Thursday, and Kim Ah-hyun, who was aboard another vessel, Rina al Nabulsi, which was seized by Israeli forces in waters near the Gaza Strip two days later.
The two Kims flew home together, arriving at Incheon International Airport at around 6:30 a.m. after being released and deported along with a larger group of foreign activists earlier in the week.
Their release came as several countries including Brazil, Indonesia, Spain and Turkey condemned Israel's interceptions as illegal under international law and several summoned Israeli envoys in protest.
The two said their ultimate goal is "the liberation of Palestine," vowing that their voyage will continue until then. They also plan to hold a rally later in the day near the Israeli Embassy in central Seoul to denounce Israel.
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