By Yasin Gungor and Riyaz ul Khaliq
ISTANBUL (AA) – Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has expressed regret over the Israeli war in the Palestinian-besieged enclave of Gaza, calling it “heartbreaking,” according to local media.
“It is heartbreaking that many times more bombs were dropped on Gaza than on Tokyo in massive US air raids during World War II,” NHK news quoted Ishiba as saying.
Ishiba’s remarks came on Thursday after receiving information from Seita Akihiro, health director at the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA.
The Israeli army has dropped 18,000 tons of bombs on the Gaza Strip since last October, or about 1.5 times the explosive force of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in World War II, according to officials in the besieged Palestinian enclave.
During World War II, the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, killing 140,000 victims.
Three days later, another bomb hit Nagasaki, killing an additional 70,000. Japan surrendered Aug. 15, 1945, ending World War II.
However, Ishiba stressed that Tokyo “must continue its assistance” to the UN agency despite Israel banning UNRWA from operating in the country.
Emphasizing the need to maintain UNRWA's activities, Ishiba said he "will continue to convey Japan's position on the issue."
Seita, who is of Japanese origin, told Ishiba that “Japan's humanitarian assistance is well-received across the world,” NHK news reported.
Israel has launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in October last year, killing over 44,300 people, most of them women and children, and injuring over 104,900.
The second year of genocide in Gaza has drawn growing international condemnation, with officials and institutions labeling the attacks and blocking of aid deliveries as a deliberate attempt to destroy a population.
- Tokyo to provide aid to displaced people in Lebanon
Meanwhile, Tokyo said Friday it will deliver relief supplies to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) for displaced people in Lebanon.
Under the International Peace Cooperation Act, Japan will supply 6,500 blankets, 6,500 sleeping mats, and 2,500 plastic sheets following a UNHCR request, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
This contribution supports UNHCR's ongoing humanitarian efforts amid growing challenges in aiding displaced populations in Lebanon, it noted.
More than 3,960 people have been killed and more than 16,500 injured in Israeli attacks in Lebanon, and over 1 million displaced since October last year, according to Lebanese health authorities.
Under the terms of the cease-fire that took effect early Wednesday, Israel will withdraw its forces south of the Blue Line de facto border in a phased manner while the Lebanese army will deploy its forces in southern Lebanon within 60 days.