Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The Japanese and Palestinian foreign ministers agreed on April 2 to continue cooperating to restore stability as soon as possible in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo said. 

KAMIKAWA Yoko, the Japanese Foreign Minister, spoke with Mohammad Mustafa, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Palestine, on the telephone. At the outset, she congratulated him on his appointment and welcomed the establishment of the new Palestinian cabinet.

In the talks, the Japanese foreign minister expressed her strong sense of urgency about the continuing deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and referred to the role Japan played in the adoption of the UN Security Council resolution on March 25, which pointed out the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire during Ramadan and the expansion of humanitarian assistance.

Considering the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and UNRWA’s measures to improve its governance, Minister Kamikawa also referred to Japan’s announcement made on April 2 regarding the decision to lift the suspension of financial contributions to UNRWA and to help while checking the appropriateness of the use of funds.

Furthermore, Minister Kamikawa stated that through the funding, Japan would assist with medical services for Palestinians in neighboring countries and areas and supplies for women and infants to respond to the poor sanitary conditions in the Gaza Strip.

In response, Prime Minister Mustafa expressed his gratitude for Japan’s assistance in Palestine and stated that he would like to cooperate with Japan’s initiative to strengthen UNRWA’s governance. Given the grave humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, he appreciated the resumption of Japan’s contribution to UNRWA and looked forward to Japan’s continued support for Palestinians in the region, according to the ministry.

Minister Kamikawa expressed her hopes for the new Palestinian cabinet to implement reforms of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in various areas and stated that Japan will contribute to the realization of a “two-state solution” in which Israel and a future Palestinian state will live side by side in peace and security. Prime Minister Mustafa elaborated on the current PA reforms and expressed his esteemed appreciation for Japan’s commitment to Middle East peace.