Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko strongly urged Israel to exercise restraint following the Iranian attacks on Israel “that further deteriorate the current situation in the Middle East,” and said Japan is deeply concerned about these attacks and strongly condemns them.

In telephone talks on April 16 with her Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz, Minister Kamikawa emphasized the potential for the situation to spiral out of control if tension continues to rise. She stressed that such a scenario would be detrimental not only to Israel and its people but also to the international community, including Japan.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Minister Kamikawa also requested Israel’s support in securing the safety of Japanese nationals, and Minister Katz stated that he would cooperate as much as possible.

Minister Kamikawa, expressing Japan’s deep concern over the situation in the Gaza Strip, called for an immediate ceasefire. She emphasized the need for a sustained environment for humanitarian assistance activities and the release of hostages. She reiterated Japan’s strong hope for a sustainable ceasefire and called for collective action towards this goal. 

Both sides concurred to continue close communication, according to the Ministry, which didn’t disclose details on what they discussed on other issues and what the Israeli response was.