Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese officials have voiced profound concern over the escalating situation in Gaza, particularly the high number of casualties, including civilians, resulting from Israel’s recent military operations, the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo reported.

At the fourth politico-military dialogue (Pol-Mil Dialogue) held between Japan and Israel in Tel Aviv on March 18, Japanese officials from the Foreign and Defense Ministries also strongly stressed the importance of implementing steadily and in good faith the agreement among the parties concerned reached in January regarding the release of the hostages and the ceasefire. They also reiterated their commitment to improving the humanitarian situation.

Officials from Japan’s National Security Secretariat also joined the meeting along with ANDO Toshihide, Director General of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau of the Foreign Ministry of Affairs, and MORIKAWA Naoya, Director, Indo-Pacific Regional Policy Division, Bureau of Defense Policy in the Ministry of Defense.

Both sides engaged in comprehensive discussions, exchanging views on a wide range of issues. These included the prospect for Gaza reconstruction and the situation in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific, the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo said without elaborating on details.

On the Israeli side, the dialogue was attended by Uri Resnick, Deputy Director of the Foreign Policy Division, NSC; Hagai Shagrir, Head of Asia Pacific Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Ilan Mazushan, Principal Deputy Director of the Political-Military Bureau, Ministry of Defense.