Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Two demonstrations were held in Tokyo on Friday to protest Israel and the United States and their policies and actions against Iran and Palestine.

One demonstration was held under the banner, “Israel and the United States must stop the mass killings in Palestine and Iran!” It was organized by Network Against Japan Arms Trade (NAJAT), the National Defense Academy of Japan Graduates Against Genocide and Palestinians of Japan, and took place in two parts: first, in front of the Israeli Embassy, while a separate demonstration was held outside the American Embassy, where a reception was being hosted by the ambassador to celebrate the upcoming Independence Day.

One of the demonstrators said they intentionally wanted to hold the demo at that time so the over-500 guests from all sectors, including diplomats, would hear the slogans that denounced America’s policy of helping Israel militarily to attack its neighbors and carry out genocide in Gaza. 

Outside the embassy, police were deployed in large numbers and when the two protests were taking place at the same time, the police herded the demonstrators into a single group and surrounded them. 

However, the protest continued with chants that included, “Netanyahu is a war criminal,” “Free Palestine,” “Stop the arms trade,” “Japan: Don’t be a party to genocide” and “Stop killing babies.”