TOKYO: Japan’s foreign minister said on Thursday she would meet Palestinian counterparts during a visit to Israel and Jordan, and would communicate Japan’s readiness to provide aid to the Palestinians.

The minister, KAMIKAWA Yoko, is also set to meet Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen during her two-day trip from Friday, as the crisis in Gaza deepened after Israel conducted a strike on the Jabalia refugee camp and as foreigners, including Japanese nationals, leave.

“I hope to discuss how to respond to the grave humanitarian situation in the Gaza region as well as directly communicate Japan’s readiness to continue providing aid,” Kamikawa said of her meeting with her Palestinian counterparts.

Kamikawa will be the first Japanese cabinet member to enter Palestine since Islamic group Hamas, which effectively controls the Gaza Strip, launched an attack against Israel on Oct. 7.

The minister will visit the city of Ramallah in the West Bank and meet with her counterpart in the Palestinian Authority, Riyad al-Maliki, on Friday.

She thanked Egypt and other countries for their support, after 18 people comprising Japanese nationals and their families fled the Gaza Strip and entered neighboring Egypt on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters before her departure, she acknowledged the Israeli strike on the Jabalia refugee camp and that many civilians had been killed in the attack.

“I understand the Israeli military has said the strike targeted Hamas operatives and relevant infrastructure,” she said. She did not comment further.

All 10 Japanese nationals and their eight Palestinian family members wishing to leave Gaza have evacuated to Egypt, Kamikawa said, adding that the evacuees were in good health.

She said Japan would remain in touch with one Japanese national living in Gaza who wished to remain there and did not evacuate.

Reuters/JIJI Press