Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said Tuesday that she will visit Israel and Jordan later this week, in the latest effort to help calm the intensifying war between the Middle Eastern country and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Kamikawa, who would become Japan's first minister to make a trip to Israel since the Oct. 7 surprise attack by Hamas on the nation, said at a press conference that she is also arranging talks with key Palestinian figures during her four-day visit from Thursday.
Her trip would come as Kamikawa is scheduled to chair a foreign ministerial gathering of the Group of Seven industrialized countries for two days from Nov. 7 in Tokyo, in which recent developments in the Middle East are expected to be discussed.
Japan has pledged to offer $10 million in emergency relief to the Gaza Strip, a Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave where a serious humanitarian crisis has arisen. Tokyo, meanwhile, has condemned Hamas for its "terror attack."
"I will explain Japan's stance" on the conflict and "exchange views" with relevant nations and regions with an eye on early de-escalation of the situation, Kamikawa told reporters.
Japan has long maintained friendly relations with many countries in the Middle East as it has been highly dependent on them for crude oil imports. Kamikawa, who took up the post in mid-September, has said stability in the region is crucial for Japan.
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