Press Releases
Statement by the Press Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the deterioration of the recent situation in the Gaza Strip and Japan’s assistance
1. The Government of Japan deeply deplores the incident where, on 24 July, a large number of casualties including many children were caused in a United Nations-run school used as a shelter for the residents in the Gaza Strip. Such an incident must not be repeated. Japan once again urges all the parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint.
2. In response to the deterioration of the situation including the above, Japan decided to extend Emergency Grant Aid of a total of 5.5 million US dollars as assistance to the Palestinians affected by the confrontation between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip. Japan's assistance will include distribution of food and medicines and technical assistance in water and sanitation fields and will be implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
3. Japan once again urges all the parties concerned to refrain from usage of excessive force and to make a truce as soon as possible in order to prevent harrowing casualties of innocent civilians. Japan continues to make efforts to achieve a ceasefire in coordination with the international community.