Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The Japanese government will arrange a charter flight to evacuate Japanese nationals out of Israel in the wake of the escalating fighting between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel, Chief Cabinet Secretary MATSUNO Hirokazu said Friday.

The charter flight will leave Tel Aviv on Saturday for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

“The local situation is very fluid, so we hope people who wish to leave (Israel) will take this opportunity,” Matsuno told a press conference.

Asked whether the second charter flight will be arranged and whether Japanese Self-Defense Forces aircraft will be dispatched, Matsuno said that the government will respond appropriately while closely monitoring further developments.

Matsuno said that there are a small number of Japanese residents in the Gaza Strip that all are in contact with the Japanese government and there have been no reports of injuries from them at this time.

The Gaza Strip’s Rafah crossing bordering Egypt, which is Gaza’s sole crossing with the country and the only entry point not controlled by Israel, was hit with an air raid on Oct. 10. 

According to reports, it was hit with “four missiles” that targeted the Palestinian side of the crossing. 

Local Egyptian group Sinai for Human Rights said Tuesday’s attacks prompted the closure of the crossing, but there was no immediate confirmation from either side.

“We will continue to take appropriate measures to ensure their safety,” he said.

*With JIJI Press