Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Japan is gravely concerned about the ongoing critical humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, pointing to the large number of civilians killed and the insecurity facing both Israelis and Palestinians.
Iwaya said in a statement Japan continues to urge all the parties including Israel, to comply with international law, including international humanitarian law, and strongly urges them to steadily work toward realisation of a ceasefire.
He added that Japan is seriously concerned about the rising tensions beyond Israel and the Gaza Strip throughout the Middle East region, including the West Bank, Lebanon, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and Iran.