Photo/Illutration Yoko Kamikawa, then justice minister, talks about a survey on stateless children at a news conference in Tokyo on July 20, 2021. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa told her Israeli counterpart on Thursday the “terror attacks” by Hamas cannot be justified for any reason, and that Tokyo resolutely condemns the conduct, a statement by the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

Kamikawa told Eli Cohen in their phone call that Israel had the right to defend itself and its people under international law, the statement said.

After initially referring to Hamas as Palestinian militants and avoiding the term “terrorism,” Japan joined other Group of Seven nations in condemning the weekend attacks in Israel as “terrorist acts.”

At a press conference in Tokyo, the local representative of Palestine’s permanent mission spoke out against the West’s support of Israel but said Japan could continue to play a neutral role.

“It is really pathetic that we hear many voices from the West, leaders unfortunately... that calls on Israel to bombard Gaza more,” Waleed Siam said. “This violence has to stop on both sides.”

The Japanese government arranged a charter flight departing from Tel Aviv on Saturday for its citizens wishing to leave Israel, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters on Friday.

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