Japan Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza

Jerusalem, July 24 (Jiji Press)--Japan called Thursday for an immediate ceasefire to end fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. Japanese Parliamentary Senior Vice Foreign Minister Nobuo Kishi said in a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem that Japan urges all parties to refrain from using excessive force and stop fighting immediately. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe conveyed a similar message during his telephone talks with Netanyahu on Tuesday. The Israeli prime minister explained to Kishi about the need to halt rocket attacks by the Islamic militant group. The U.N. Human Rights Council adopted on Wednesday a resolution condemning Israel's military operations in Gaza, but Japan abstained from voting. Kishi told reporters after Thursday's meeting with Netanyahu that Japan was concerned about denouncing only one party involved in the conflict. More than 770 Palestinians and 35 people on the Israeli side have been killed in Gaza since Israel started military operations on June 8. END