Press Releases
Courtesy Call on H.E. Mr. Gideon SA’AR, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, by Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs MATSUMOTO Hisashi
August 13, 2025
On August 13, commencing at 14:50 p.m. (local time) for approximately 1 hour, Mr. MATSUMOTO Hisashi, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is visiting Israel, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Gideon SA’AR, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel. The overview is as follows:
- At the outset, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Matsumoto strongly condemned the terror attacks carried out by Hamas and stressed that Hamas should be disarmed. He also expressed his strong concern that the Israel government’s decision to approve a plan to take control of Gaza City will further exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. He conveyed the importatnce to work in good faith towards an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages. He emphasized that Japan opposes any actions, such as this plan, that undermine the realization of a two-state solution.
- Parliamentary Vice-Minister Matsumoto strongly called on Israel to take substantive measures to end the serious humanitarian crisis, including starvation.
- Parliamentary Vice-Minister Matsumoto further stated that Japan attaches importance to the realization of a two-state solution. He also stressed Japan’s strong sense of urgency that the prerequisites for a two-state solution could be jeopardized, following the Israeli military operations across Gaza and the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. In this vein, he explained that it is important to support Palestine's economic viability together with the international community, and that this will also contribute to Israel's national interests.
- In response, Foreign Minister Sa’ar outlined Israel's position on these matters. The both sides concurred on continuing close communication with each other regarding Japan-Israel relations and regional and international issues through various consultation frameworks and opportunities for talks at all levels, as well as on discussing the bilateral relations from a medium- to long-term perspective.