Japan Press Weekly

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2024 March 13 - 19 [POLITICS]

Foreign Minister to JCP Kokuta: Israel’s acts violate international humanitarian law

The Japanese government has moved from its previous stance of “refraining from legally assessing” in consideration of the Israeli government and has recognized that Israel’s actions are a breach of international law.

Japanese Communist Party representative Kokuta Keiji at a meeting of the Lower House Committee on Foreign Affairs on March 13 asked if the government has determined that Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of Gaza, which is overcrowded with civilians, constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law.

Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko answered, “As you’ve just pointed out, it fails to comply with the basic principles of international humanitarian law and is not justifiable.”

Kokuta pointed out that Israel is still committed to launching a full-scale ground offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza and said, “If such a ground operation is conducted, it will lead to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.”

Kokuta continued to say that the death toll in Gaza has already exceeded 30,000 due to the indiscriminate attacks by the Israeli military, and 70% of the victims are women and children. He demanded that the Japanese government show its firm opposition to Israel’s ground operation both at home and abroad.

Kamikawa in response said, “Attacks that needlessly target innocent civilians and children violate fundamental principles of international humanitarian law. We are calling on the parties concerned to immediately act from a humanitarian perspective.” Kokuta said, “If that is the case, Japan should clearly tell Israel to stop its attacks without delay.”

Past related article:
> Yamazoe criticizes gov’t for not regarding Israel’s acts as breach of international humanitarian law [November 10, 2023]