November 7, 2023

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo at a press conference in the Diet building on November 6 called on the international community to take urgent action to end Israel’s attacks on Gaza and achieve an immediate ceasefire.

He said, “The JCP will send its statement titled, ‘Stop genocide in Gaza - a call on governments concerned to work for a halt to military attacks and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza’ to the world’s governments and the United Nations and will make a representation to international organizations.”

Shii criticized the Japanese government for staying silent regarding Israel’s genocidal acts while condemning Hamas attacks. Shii said that Japan is taking a shameful attitude by not calling for a ceasefire or a truce.

He noted that criticism has grown against Japan in Arab nations, the United States, and European countries, and said, “When the Japanese government adopts an irresponsible attitude, the JCP, though just a tiny political party, has decided to arouse international public opinion on the need to take urgent action in order to end the ongoing crisis.”

Touching upon the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting starting on November 7 in Tokyo, Shii said that G7 states should discuss concrete ways to: terminate Israel’s attacks on Gaza; produce an immediate ceasefire; and have both Israeli troops and Hamas militants abide by the latest UNGA resolution which calls for a humanitarian truce.

Shii stated that the same as that of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Israel’s attacks on Gaza violate both the UN Charter and international law. He added that its unlawful acts put Palestinian people at a grave risk of genocide.

Shii said, “Japan condemns Russia for invading Ukraine. It, however, does not condemn Israel for attacking Gaza. Such a ‘double standard’ is unacceptable. All countries should refrain from actions which go against the UN Charter and international law and should adopt a ‘single standard’ of pursuing a world order of peace based on the UN Charter and international law.”