Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese and other protestors stood together in front of the Ministry of Defense building, Tokyo on Thursday and denounced the Japanese government’s decision to purchase Israeli-made attack drones, as a “participation in supporting Israeli military industries that are involved in genocidal operations against Palestinians, and a violation of international law.”

The protest organizers submitted a petition to the ministry to cancel these purchases, which they say will cost the Japanese government ten billion yen. They stated that the ministry and Kawasaki Heavy Industries are also under pressure because of this deal.

Protestors said the drone deal would send a negative image of Japan to the world if the country bought Israeli attack drones at a time when Israel has been committing massacres against Palestinians in Gaza daily.

Buddhist monks also joined the demonstrators with banners that said, “We stand against the Israeli occupation, which has been killing Palestinians for 75 years.”

The protesters also raised banners denouncing the international military industry “that makes money from killing Palestinians.” They cried out, “Ministry of Defense: Do not participate in the genocide in Gaza.”

The protesters chanted in English and in Japanese, “Free Palestine from the river to the sea,” and “We are watching you, Ministry of Defense.”