Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said during a parliamentary session last week that the Japanese government was making an “earnest effort” to accept “ill or injured” people from Gaza as part of a “medical evacuation.” He added that the government would also launch a special program for students from Gaza to study in Japan. Separately, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said that Palestinians who receive medical treatment in Japan under this program would return to Gaza afterwards.

Since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel, Israeli forces have carried out operations that, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, have resulted in the killing of at least 47,000 Palestinians and injuries to over 110,000 others and likely many more. Israeli authorities have forcibly displaced virtually all of Gaza’s population, used starvation of civiliansas a weapon of war, deliberately deprived civilians of water, electricity, medical aid, and other objects necessary for their survival, and damaged or destroyed Gaza’s essential infrastructure and most homes, schools, universities, and hospitals. These actions amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide.