Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa is considering visiting Israel, a government source said Wednesday, amid the escalating war between the country and Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Japan has condemned Hamas for its "terror attacks" on Israel while pledging to provide $10 million in emergency humanitarian relief to the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian enclave ruled by the Islamist group.
If realized, the trip would be the first ministerial visit to Israel by Japan since the Oct. 7 surprise attack by Hamas. The war has already claimed thousands of Palestinian and Israeli lives.
Kamikawa met with West Bank-based Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday on the fringes of an international conference held in Egypt to discuss the conflict. The two sides agreed to keep in close communication as they strive to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Japan has long maintained friendly relations with many Middle Eastern countries. Kamikawa, who took up her post in September, has said stability in the region is crucial for Japan, which is highly dependent on crude oil imports.