Japan Press Weekly

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2023 November 22 - 28 [WORLD]

Shii comments on 4-day pause in fighting in Gaza

Israel and Hamas on November 22 agreed to have a 4-day pause in fighting in Gaza in order to release 150 women and children Palestinian hostages held in Israeli prisons in exchange for a release of 50 Israelis held as hostages in Gaza.

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on the same day issued a comment in regard to the agreement and said, “I hope that as much humanitarian support as possible will be provided during the 4-day pause.”

Shii expressed concern that the Israeli government may resume an even larger military operation in Gaza after the 4-day pause.

His comment stresses the urgent need for the Israeli military to stop bombing Gaza and for both Israel and Hamas to sit at a negotiating table to work out an immediate and permanent ceasefire so as to defuse the serious humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The comment calls on the international community to take concrete action to achieve these objectives.

According to Shii, peacebuilding in the Middle East, as confirmed in relevant UN resolutions, needs global efforts based on the following three principles: promote the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the occupied Palestinian territories; guarantee the right to national self-determination, including the Palestinian right to establish an independent state; and urge both sides to respect each other’s right to peaceful existence.

Shii in the comment once again demanded that the international community unite to bring about an end to the current crisis in Gaza and open the path to lasting peace in compliance with the three principles.