Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The Foreign Ministry in Tokyo is advising Japanese citizens to evacuate the Gaza Strip and the surrounding areas immediately due the ongoing clashes between Hamas and Israel.

The Ministry raised the danger level in the Gaza Strip from Level 3 (Travel advisory – reconsider your trip) to Level 4 (Travel advisory – evacuate immediately).

In Jerusalem, the advisory level has been raised from Level 1 (Exercise increased caution) to Level 2 (Consider canceling your trip).

Chief Cabinet Secretary MATSUNO Hirokazu told a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday: “As of now, airports in Israel are not closed, and commercial flights have not been suspended. We advise Japanese citizens who wish to depart to pay close attention to the information regarding outgoing flights.”

A source at the Foreign Ministry told Arab News Japan there are around 1,300 Japanese citizens living in both Israel and the Palestinian Territories but information regarding their location could not be revealed due to security concerns.