Japan PM Says Palestine State Recognition ‘When, Not If’

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told the United Nations on Tuesday that Tokyo’s recognition of the State of Palestine was only a matter of time, expressing strong indignation at recent comments by Israeli officials.

Nearly 80 per cent of UN member states currently recognise Palestine, with countries including Britain, Canada and France joining the list this week following nearly two years of conflict in Gaza.

“I feel strongly indignant at the statements made by senior Israeli government officials that appear to categorically reject the very notion of Palestinian state-building,” Ishiba said.

He emphasised: “For our country, the question is not whether to recognise a Palestinian state, but when. The continued unilateral actions by the government of Israel can never be accepted.”

Ishiba also warned: “I must state clearly that if further actions are taken that obstruct the realisation of a two-state solution, Japan will be compelled to take new measures in response.”

The latest international moves to recognise Palestine follow the Israeli offensive in Gaza, which began after the Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack in Israel on 7 October 2023.

• The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 Israelis, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli data.
• Since then, Israeli military operations have reportedly killed 65,382 Palestinians, mostly civilians, figures that the UN considers reliable.

Under former US President Donald Trump, Washington argued that recognising Palestine would effectively reward Hamas for the attack.

Japan, as a G7 member, maintains close ties with the United States and hosts approximately 54,000 US military personnel.

Elsewhere in Asia, countries such as South Korea and Singapore have yet to recognise Palestine as a state.

Ishiba reflected on the human toll of the conflict: “The terror inflicted by Hamas and the devastation in Gaza we are witnessing today have left many feeling deeply saddened.”

He added that the priority must be sustainable coexistence: “What matters the most is that Palestine can exist in a sustainable manner, living side by side in peace with Israel.”

Ishiba also stressed the responsibility of the Palestinian leadership: “As we invite Palestine to assume its role as a responsible member of the international community, the Palestinian side must establish a system of governance that ensures accountability.”