Japanese PM: More Bombs Fired In Gaza Than Tokyo In World War II

JAKARTA - Japanese Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, expressed regret over the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, and called the incident "very heartbreaking".

"It is very sad that the bombs dropped in Gaza far more than the bombs dropped in Tokyo during the US massive airstrikes in World War II," Ishiba said as quoted by NHK News as reported by ANTARA, Friday, November 29.

Ishiba's statement was delivered on Thursday (28/11), after receiving information from Seita Akihiro, the health director of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

According to officials in Gaza, Israeli soldiers have dropped 18,000 tonnes of bombs in the Gaza Strip since last October, or about 1.5 times the bomb blast force imposed on Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II.

During World War II, the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, which killed 140,000 people.

Three days later, another bomb hithimde, killing 70,000 people. Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, ending World War II.

However, Ishiba insists that Tokyo "must continue to provide assistance" to UNRWA even though Israel has banned the UN agency from operating in its territory.

While emphasizing the importance of continuing UNRWA activities, Ishiba said he "will continue to convey Japan's position on this issue."

Seita, who is from Japan, told Ishiba that Japan's humanitarian assistance is well received worldwide, according to NHK News.

Israel launched a war called genocide against Gaza after a cross-border attack by Palestinian Struggle group Hamas in October last year.

Israeli attacks across Gaza have killed more than 44,300 people, mostly women and children, and injured more than 104,900 people.

The second year of genocide in Gaza has sparked widespread international condemnation, with a number of officials and institutions calling the Israeli aid attacks and blockades in the enclave a systematic attempt to destroy Palestinians.

Assistance to Lebanon

Meanwhile, Tokyo on Friday said it would send aid to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) for refugees in Lebanon.

Under the International Peace Cooperation Act, Japan will provide 6,500 blankets, 6,500 sleeping mats, and 2,500 plastic sheets as requested by UNHCR, Japan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

This contribution supports UNHCR's ongoing humanitarian efforts amid growing challenges in helping the population of refugees in Lebanon, the statement said.

More than 3,960 people have been killed and more than 16,500 injured in Israeli attacks in Lebanon, with more than 1 million people displaced since October last year, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Under the terms of a ceasefire that came into effect in the early hours of Wednesday, Israel will withdraw its troops to the south of the Blue Line as a de facto border in stages, while Lebanese troops will be deployed to southern Lebanon within 60 days.