Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa arrives to a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, in New York. Julia Nikhinson/Pool via REUTERS.
Japan has announced a new commitment to provide $65 million in additional humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territories, citing concerns over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa made this announcement during her visit to Israel and Jordan on Friday. Following her meetings with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki, Kamikawa expressed Japan’s intention to offer material assistance to Gaza, which has been heavily impacted by the conflict.
While in Jordan, Kamikawa emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine to prevent the recurrence of tragic acts of terrorism. She conveyed Japan’s steadfast support for a two-state solution to both Israeli and Palestinian officials. This visit coincides with Japan’s upcoming hosting of the foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations in Tokyo, taking place amid the deepening crisis in Gaza. Israel has resisted calls for a humanitarian pause in the conflict, while the leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon, backed by Iran, has warned of the potential spillover of the conflict into neighboring areas.
Kamikawa refrained from making a direct assessment of whether Israel’s strikes on Gaza align with international law but emphasized the necessity for all parties to adhere to the principles of safeguarding human rights and minimizing civilian casualties.
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