Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The Japanese Communist Party has called for the protection of the Palestinians, saying indiscriminate attacks by Israel that could claim many lives are unjustifiable as such action is equivalent to collective punishment of people living under occupation.

In a statement issued by JCP leader ISHII Kazuo, the Party expressed grave concern about the potential escalation of the conflict between Hamas and Israel and called on both parties to break the vicious cycle of violent retaliation and exercise utmost self-restraint.

The chain of violence and the escalation of the conflict can be prevented only through negotiations that will lead to the realization of a Palestinian state and its peaceful coexistence with Israel, the party says.

To make a breakthrough and pave the way for peace in the Middle East in line with the international consensus, the JCP is calling on all countries and other international stakeholders to make every possible diplomatic effort. 

“Hamas’s indiscriminate attacks and abduction of civilians are clear violations of international humanitarian law and cannot be tolerated for any reason,” the party’s statement said. “But Israel’s retaliatory strikes that followed have claimed many lives and injured many others.”

The Communist Party accused Israel of being the cause of the problems: “At the root of today’s situation lies the problem of Israel forcibly evicting residents to expand settlements in violation of international law, imposing a blockade on the Gaza Strip, and carrying out air strikes and attacks against the area.” 

The JCP set out three principles for peace in the Middle East: The first is Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territories, and this should be followed by the realization of the right to self-determination, which includes the Palestinians’ right to establish an independent state; third is establishing mutual recognition to respect the right to coexistence. These principles have become the international consensus, the party added, and is documented in a series of UN resolutions.