Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko held a telephone talk with her Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Tuesday with the conflict between Palestine and Israel the main topic of discussion. 

Japan’s Foreign Ministry reported that the two ministers held a “frank discussion” regarding the situation surrounding Israel and Gaza. 

Kamikawa said she has been paying close attention to the situation in the Gaza Strip and condemns the recent terror attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian militants, particularly the kidnapping of innocent civilians, which, she said, cannot be justified for any reason.

She told Abdollahian she is deeply saddened by the loss of lives of so many innocent civilians and that it is important for the civilians being held hostage to be released as soon as possible so that the situation in Gaza can calm down. 

The two ministers agreed on the importance of working together to improve humanitarian access in the Gaza Strip and for the international community to provide humanitarian assistance together. 

Kamikawa called on Iran to play a role in urging Hamas and others to bring calm to the situation in Gaza.

The two ministers agreed to continue close communications on the matter.