Photo/Illutration Protesters in Tokyo use their smartphones for an event held in Minato Ward to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Iconic Tokyo Tower is lit up behind them. (Hikaru Uchida)

Around 200 people gathered at Zojoji temple in Tokyo on Oct. 5 to call for an end to the fighting raging in the Gaza Strip as the war approaches its first anniversary.

In pouring rain, they placed lit candles to form the word “GAZA” and called for an immediate ceasefire.

The event at the temple in Minato Ward was organized by six nongovernmental organizations, including the Japan International Volunteer Center, which has been involved in humanitarian assistance in Palestine.

A minute of silent prayer was offered after messages sent from local people in the Gaza Strip were read out.

The six organizations issued a statement saying, “We strongly appeal for a permanent ceasefire and an end to the occupation as soon as possible, and an end to this unreasonable violence.”

The same day, a demonstration calling for an immediate ceasefire was also held in the capital’s Shibuya district. Approximately 1,300 people attended, according to the organizers.

The participants held up Palestinian flags and called for “ceasefire now” and “stop the massacre.”

The war was triggered by an attack on Israel by Hamas militants that left more than 1,000 Israelis dead. Hamas is the Islamic organization that effectively controls the Gaza Strip, which is Palestinian territory.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed in Gaza since the conflict started.

The anniversary of the attack falls on Oct. 7.

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