Arab News Japan
YOKOSUKA (Japan): Stirred by the latest military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel, members of the Yokosuka Non-Nuclear Citizens Declaration Movement on Sunday gathered in protest outside the US Yokosuka Naval Base near Tokyo, according to participants.
About 60 people stood shoulder to shoulder in silence, holding placards with messages such as “We protest the pre-emptive attack on Iran by the United States and Israel” and “NO WAR ON IRAN,” their quiet presence speaking volumes against violence.
Reports detail the devastating toll of the attacks on Iran, with innocent lives lost and airstrikes claiming the lives of children and students in elementary schools.
A 57-year-old woman from Yamanashi Prefecture also condemned what she described as genocide by the Israeli military in the Palestinian territory of Gaza. She stated, “I cry when I imagine children being sacrificed. It’s wrong for those in power to use force as they please.”
MATSUMOTO Mari, 57, a member of the group, asserted that the attacks by the United States and Israel constituted a violation of Iran’s sovereignty. She told local media, “We cannot tolerate ‘peace through strength’ through military attacks that violate international law.” She further called for protests, noting that warships departing from Yokosuka Base participated in pre-emptive attacks during the 2003 Iraq War.
A 60-year-old woman holding a placard reading “HANDS OFF IRAN” expressed her sadness at the ongoing conflict, stating, “I feel so sad that we can’t stop the war. Some American soldiers even gave me a thumbs up, so I hope they understood my feelings.”
Later that day, the group presented a formal appeal to the commander of the US Navy in Japan, calling for an immediate end to US military actions against Iran.
