May 27, 2025

Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Kami Tomoko on May 23 at a House of Councilors special committee meeting demanded that the Japanese government, like other countries, take concrete actions to press Israel to stop its act of blocking the entry of humanitarian supplies into Gaza.

The Israeli military on May 16 expanded its military operations in Gaza, killing more than 600 Palestinians. Three days later, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement in which he expressed his attempt to “control all of the Gaza Strip”. In reaction, the U.K., France, and Canada on May 19 released a joint statement in which they claimed that Israel’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza “risks breaching International Humanitarian Law”, adding that they will “not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions,” against Israel.

JCP Kami at the meeting of the Upper House Special Committee on Okinawa and Northern Problems requested that following the three countries, Japan take concrete measures such as suspending negotiations on a Japan-Israel Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and calling on the U.S. to discontinue its military support to Israel.

Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi in reply said that it is regrettable that civilian casualties in Gaza have reached a high number, but gave no response to Kami’s request.

Kami pointed out that Gaza’s humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, and stressed that the government should provide humanitarian assistance more than that offered in the past through Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Past related article:
> JCP Kokuta demands cancellation of Japan-Israel EPA talks [April 6, 2024]