Photo: Collected
Japan opposes a full-scale Israeli military operation in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip and is calling for an immediate ceasefire, Japanese Cabinet Chief Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Monday (13 May).
"We are objecting to the complete military activities in Rafah. It is quite important to maintain the sustainable situation for humanitarian purposes. We are asking for an immediate ceasefire and we hope that the ceasefire … [will be] continuing for a long time," Hayashi told a regular press conference.
Tokyo has expressed its concern about Rafah to the Israeli authorities, urging the Jewish state to take up diplomatic activities in a "very patient and active manner," he added.
Last week, the Israeli army started a military operation in the eastern parts of the southern Gaza city of Rafah and took control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing with Egypt. Israeli authorities say the operation is aimed at eliminating the remaining battalions of Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip. On Friday, Israeli media reported that Israel's military cabinet had approved expanding the ground operation in Rafah.
The ground operation comes amid complicated negotiations between Hamas and Israel. While Hamas is demanding a complete ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave, Israel says it is ready for a temporary ceasefire but still plans to achieve all its military goals, including the elimination of Hamas's military and political potential.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel and breached the border, attacking both civilian neighborhoods and military bases. Nearly 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted during the attack. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 35,000 people have been killed so far by Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, local authorities said. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.
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