Arab News Japan
TOKYO: Japan’s Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko refrained from taking a position or making a comment on the current case before the International Court of Justice initiated by South Africa regarding the genocide being committed by Israel against the Palestinians.
“With regard to the proceedings of the International Court of Justice and the convention on the prevention of genocide toward acts taken by Israel, the International Court of Justice is now carrying out its deliberations at this moment,” Kamikawa pointed out at a press conference on Friday. “As such, I will refrain from commenting on this matter.”
In her reply to a question on Japan’s position on this matter and what Japan expects the outcome to be, Kamikawa was equally non-commital: “As far as Japan is concerned, we will continue to make efforts to gather relevant information and will continue to monitor the situation with interest regarding the ongoing legal procedures.”
South Africa accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians in the wake of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. Israel’s response has resulted in the death of more than 23,000 people, mainly women and children, in Gaza.
South Africa says Israel’s actions “are genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnic group.”