Arab News Japan

DUBAI: Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary MATSUNO Hirokazu told a press conference on Tuesday that the Japanese government has not received any reports of any Japanese national deaths or injuries in Israel and Palestine.

Matsuno said that although there are a few Japanese nationals living in the Gaza Strip, Japan has been unable to establish contact with any of them and has not confirmed any immediate life-threatening situations.

“In order to ensure comprehensive protection for our citizens in the future, we have established an information task force at the Prime Minister’s residence,” he said in his statement, adding: “We have also set up a liaison office headed by the Director-General of the Middle East Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

The official explained that since Oct. 7, Japan has been issuing advisories through local embassies urging Japanese citizens to refrain from traveling to Israel, and to seek shelter if already there.

“We are taking all necessary measures to support Japanese nationals, including those United Nations personnel who are also present,” Matsuno said.

Since Saturday, Israel increased airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and sealed it off from food, fuel and other supplies in retaliation for a bloody incursion by Hamas militants, as the war’s death toll rose to nearly 1,600 on both sides.