A Japanese volunteer group on Friday handed out cakes to Palestinian children at refugee camps in a gesture designed to boost their spirits amid the intensifying conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
The Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC) handed out about 75 kg of cakes donated by makers in the city of Nagasaki.
About 150 children gathered at a peace center in front of the Church of the Nativity to receive slices of cake.
"We want the children to be happy with the cakes, in spite of the escalating conflict," said Maki Sato, a JVC representative.
The JVC has been involved in promoting exchanges between Palestinian children in the camps and the Japanese city. Since 1999, it has engaged in activities such as teaching children about the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki and other events.
In return, the children presented the city with a video recording of a dance performance with prayers for peace, along with 1,000 folded paper cranes on a string.