Israeli envoy rebuffs Nobel laureate's comparison of Gaza to post-war Japan

This photo shows Palestinian women and their children walking through ruins scarred by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine May 31 2024 AP-Yonhap — This photo shows Palestinian women and their children walking through ruins scarred by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, May 31, 2024. AP-Yonhap

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - Israel's ambassador to Japan rejected a comparison between Gaza and post-World War II Japan made by a leader of Nihon Hidankyo, the Japanese anti-nuclear group that won this year's Nobel Peace Prize.

Ambassador Gilad Cohen on Saturday called the remarks by Toshiyuki Mimaki, co-chair of Hidankyo, "outrageous and baseless" in a post on social media platform X (previously Twitter). Cohen said the comparison "distort[s] history and dishonor[s] the victims."

Mimaki had said at a press conference on Friday after the Nobel announcement that the situation in Gaza, where "children are bleeding out so much, reminds me of Japan 80 years ago."

The comments come amid growing international concern over civilian casualties in Gaza resulting from Israel's military response to an attack by Hamas last October.

AJP

Israeli envoy rebuffs Nobel laureate's comparison of Gaza to post-war Japan

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