No. 1331 Foreign Minister’s Ceremonial Visits to Middle East Nations
The United Nations General Assembly adopted recently a resolution calling for ‘humanitarian truce’ in the Gaza Strip. But the Israeli side will not stop attacks on the area. The fact is harshly criticized as violation of the international human rights laws, being defined as a war crime.
ISRAEL MUST OBSERVE INTERNAIOTNAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS
Condemnations for violation of human rights laws
The Israel military air-raided November 11 the refugee camp at Jabalia, Gaza, over which the United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Refugees expressed severe concerns, stating that ‘the act could constitute a war crime’.
UN Secretary-General Guterres mentioned October 24 in the Security Council meeting, accusing the Israeli blockade and attacks against Gaza, that he deeply worries about the apparent violation of the international laws on the human rights. He explicitly acknowledged that the humanitarian crises have been aggravating seriously in Gaza.
The international humanitarian laws state that, even in the wartime, children shall be protected with special attention, but those in Gaza now are exposed to the indiscriminate bombings by the Israeli troops to be killed. Commissioner General Philippe Lazarrini of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees told that ‘approximately 3,200 children have been killed for the past three weeks’ in the UNSC meeting October 30, condemning Israel.
Obvious and open terrorism of state
Prime Minister Netanyahu, never caring about criticisms from the international organizations for terrorism of his nation, declares to annihilate the Hamas group and commits openly in genocide. On October 27 the government ordered the ground forces to invade in Gaza. The Israeli authority has, reportedly, a plan to expel the 2.1 million residents to Egypt.
On the following day of the ground attack High Commissioner Volker Turk of the UNHCR convicted Israel, saying that ‘violence and pains have been escalated to a new level’. He continued to say that communication is disrupted between Gaza and the outside world due to the attacks and no message is transmitted from Gaza.
Under the circumstances Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko visited Israel, Jordan and Palestine during November 2 and 5, conveying a message to Israel and Palestine ‘to cease battles transitionally for a humanitarian purpose’ and ‘to build conditions in which humanitarian assistance activities may be carried out’.
Diplomacy based on Constitution should be implemented
However, the foreign minister did not refer to Israel which blocks Gaza and repeats attacks against Palestinian people, while totally ignoring the human rights of Palestinians though she has directly accused the terrorist acts by Hamas. The Japanese government has just, at best, requested the conflicting parties to behave in accordance with the international norms. The recent FM’s visit represents performance for the sake of appearance.
The Preamble of Constitution states: ‘We desire to occupy an honored place in an international society striving for the preservation of peace, and the banishment of tyranny and slavery, oppression and intolerance for all time from the earth. We recognize that all peoples of the world have the right to live in peace, free from fear and want.’ The Japanese government, however, does not show its commitments to carry out constitutional diplomacy.
国連総会でガザ地区での「人道的休戦」などを求める決議が採択された。しかし、イスラエルはガザ地区への攻撃の手を緩めようとしない。国際人権法違反、戦争犯罪との批判が高まっている。
人道法違反次つぎ
イスラエル軍が11月１日、ガザ地区のジャバリア難民キャンプを空爆したことについて、国連人権高等弁務官事務所は「戦争犯罪に相当する可能性がある」とする見解と深刻な懸念を表明した。
また、グテーレス国連事務総長は10月24日、安全保障理事会でイスラエルのガザ地区封鎖と攻撃を「ガザで見られる明白な国際人道法違反を深く憂慮している」と発言、ガザで進む人道危機がいっそう深刻化しているとの認識を示した。
国際人道法では戦時下でも子どもは特別の保護を与えられると規定するが、イスラエル軍の無差別攻撃にさらされ、殺されている。国連パレスチナ難民救済事業機関（ Ｕ Ｎ Ｒ ＷＡ）のラザリーニ事務局長は10月30日、安保理事会で「３週間で約３２００人の子どもが殺された」と指摘し、イスラエルを非難した。
公然たる国家テロ
このように国際機関から国家テロを非難されてもネタニヤフ・イスラエル首相は意に介さない。ハマスをせん滅すると公言してジェノサイドに走る。10月27日には地上軍をガザ地区に侵攻させた。イスラエルでは、ガザの２１０万人をエジプトに追放する案まであるという。
地上侵攻の翌日には国連のトゥルク人権高等弁務官が、「暴力と苦痛が新たなレベルに引き上げられた」と非難。さらに通信インフラが攻撃されたことによってガザが外界と遮断され、ガザの状況が発信できなくなったと指摘した。
上川陽子外相はこの事態の中で11月２日から５日にイスラエルとヨルダンを訪問、イスラエルとパレスチナに「人道目的の一時的な戦闘休止」と「人道支援活動が可能な環境の確保」を伝えた。
憲法活かす外交を
しかし、「ハマスのテロを断固として非難」する一方、パレスチナ人の人権を一切無視し、封鎖の徹底と攻撃を繰り返すイスラエルには言及しない。せいぜい「全ての当事者の国際法に従った行動」を要請するだけだ。これでは形だけの中東訪問に過ぎない。
憲法前文の「平和を維持し、専制と隷従、圧迫と偏狭を地上から永遠に除去しようと努めている国際社会において、名誉ある地位を占めたい」を実践する決意は微塵も見えない。
英訳版↓
No. 1331 Foreign Minister’s Ceremonial Visits to Middle East Nations
The United Nations General Assembly adopted recently a resolution calling for ‘humanitarian truce’ in the Gaza Strip. But the Israeli side will not stop attacks on the area. The fact is harshly criticized as violation of the international human rights laws, being defined as a war crime.
ISRAEL MUST OBSERVE INTERNAIOTNAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS
Condemnations for violation of human rights laws
The Israel military air-raided November 11 the refugee camp at Jabalia, Gaza, over which the United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Refugees expressed severe concerns, stating that ‘the act could constitute a war crime’.
UN Secretary-General Guterres mentioned October 24 in the Security Council meeting, accusing the Israeli blockade and attacks against Gaza, that he deeply worries about the apparent violation of the international laws on the human rights. He explicitly acknowledged that the humanitarian crises have been aggravating seriously in Gaza.
The international humanitarian laws state that, even in the wartime, children shall be protected with special attention, but those in Gaza now are exposed to the indiscriminate bombings by the Israeli troops to be killed. Commissioner General Philippe Lazarrini of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees told that ‘approximately 3,200 children have been killed for the past three weeks’ in the UNSC meeting October 30, condemning Israel.
Obvious and open terrorism of state
Prime Minister Netanyahu, never caring about criticisms from the international organizations for terrorism of his nation, declares to annihilate the Hamas group and commits openly in genocide. On October 27 the government ordered the ground forces to invade in Gaza. The Israeli authority has, reportedly, a plan to expel the 2.1 million residents to Egypt.
On the following day of the ground attack High Commissioner Volker Turk of the UNHCR convicted Israel, saying that ‘violence and pains have been escalated to a new level’. He continued to say that communication is disrupted between Gaza and the outside world due to the attacks and no message is transmitted from Gaza.
Under the circumstances Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko visited Israel, Jordan and Palestine during November 2 and 5, conveying a message to Israel and Palestine ‘to cease battles transitionally for a humanitarian purpose’ and ‘to build conditions in which humanitarian assistance activities may be carried out’.
Diplomacy based on Constitution should be implemented
However, the foreign minister did not refer to Israel which blocks Gaza and repeats attacks against Palestinian people, while totally ignoring the human rights of Palestinians though she has directly accused the terrorist acts by Hamas. The Japanese government has just, at best, requested the conflicting parties to behave in accordance with the international norms. The recent FM’s visit represents performance for the sake of appearance.
The Preamble of Constitution states: ‘We desire to occupy an honored place in an international society striving for the preservation of peace, and the banishment of tyranny and slavery, oppression and intolerance for all time from the earth. We recognize that all peoples of the world have the right to live in peace, free from fear and want.’ The Japanese government, however, does not show its commitments to carry out constitutional diplomacy.
November 15, 2023