Press Conferences

Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs:I have two announcements at the outset.

First, I held telephone talks with Foreign Minister Park Jin of the Republic of Korea (ROK) earlier. I expressed candidly my deep appreciation for the assistance rendered by the Government of ROK to Japanese nationals leaving Israel. In addition, we confirmed that we will continue to communicate closely, as the situation on the ground remains unpredictable. We also concurred to continue our cooperation and help each other in calming down the situation as soon as possible and enabling our respective nationals to leave the country.

Second, Japan decided to dispatch Mr. UEMURA Tsukasa, Representative of the Government of Japan and Special Envoy for the Middle East Peace to Middle Eastern countries, as part of diplomatic efforts on the situation in Israel and Palestine. The Government of Japan will make various efforts, including reaching out to the parties concerned while continuing to cooperate with various countries and the international community towards calming down the situation as soon as possible.

That is all from me.

Reporter: First, I would like to ask about the protection of Japanese citizens. Last night, a chartered flight carrying eight of them left Israel. How many Japanese citizens remain in the country? What is the status of their safety? Furthermore, is it possible the Government will arrange additional chartered flights? In particular, there are concerns about the safety of Japanese citizens in the Gaza Strip. What measures do you intend to take for them, including their evacuation?

Minister Kamikawa:I will begin with your first question, on confirming the number of Japanese residents and their safety. In the early hours this morning, Japan time, eight Japanese citizens residing in Israel had departed the country on a chartered flight arranged by the Government and arrived in Dubai. As of October 14, there are just over 1,000 Japanese citizens residing in Israel. The Embassy of Japan in Israel is communicating with Japanese citizens. We have yet to receive any information that any have lost their lives or been injured.

The current situation in Israel and Palestine is extremely fluid and is constantly changing. We intend to once again urge all those who wish to leave the country to do so as soon as possible, while commercial flights are still being operated.

Regarding your second question on the arrangement of additional chartered flights, we will appropriately consider such a possibility, while carefully assessing any future developments in the situation. Furthermore, the Government has dispatched Self-Defense Forces aircraft to a nearby country and placed them on standby there in order to be able to rapidly respond in case it becomes necessary to transport Japanese citizens and others.

Your third question concerned ensuring the safety of Japanese citizens in the Gaza Strip. A small number of Japanese citizens reside in the Gaza Strip due to various individual circumstances. We are communicating closely with them and will continue to make every effort to ensure their safety.

Reporter:Concerning the situation on the ground, the evacuation deadline announced by the Israeli military has passed, and people are increasingly of the view that its ground invasion is set to begin. How do you perceive the situation on the ground? Please also tell us what you think the Japanese Government can do.

Minister Kamikawa:In the Gaza Strip and neighboring regions, there have already been numerous deaths and injuries. Tensions are heightening rapidly, and the situation remains totally unpredictable. The Government of Japan is paying close attention to the situation with great concern.

As I have stated, diplomatic efforts are needed to calm down the situation as soon as possible. I held a telephone talk with Foreign Minister Cohen of Israel, as well as telephone talks with Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Qatar. I also held a telephone talk with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Malki of Palestine on October 13, and we concurred on the necessity to calm down the situation as soon as possible and improve humanitarian access.

The dispatch of Mr. Uemura, as I mentioned earlier, is part of such efforts. We will take all possible measures to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals, while continuing to cooperate with the international community and making diplomatic efforts towards calming down the situation as soon as possible.