November 15, 2012

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Statement by the Press Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the recent situation in the Gaza Strip

1. The Government of Japan is deeply concerned about the recent situation in the Gaza Strip, in which tension in and around Gaza is escalated and civilians are becoming casualties.

2. Japan urges both Israel and Palestinian militants to exercise the maximum restraint and to prevent further escalation of violence and civilian casualties.

3. Japan is convinced that the problems people in the Middle East face can never be solved through violence but only through negotiations and efforts to build mutual trust among parties to the conflict. Japan strongly hopes that all the parties concerned will make the utmost efforts to that end.

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*This is a provisional translation. The above date denotes the date of the issue of the original press release in Japanese.

*For inquiries, please contact the First Middle East Division, MOFA (tel.5501-8000(ext.2765))