Waleed Siam, the representative of the Permanent General Mission of Palestine in Japan, on Monday called on Japan to recognize Palestine as a state soon, following similar moves by countries including the U.K.
The Palestinian ambassador's call came after Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Friday that his country will not recognize Palestine as a state for the time being.
At a news conference in Tokyo, Siam said that some 200,000 people in Gaza have been left "killed, injured or missing" due to Israeli military operations.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to recognize Palestine as a state, Siam said, "recognition of the state of Palestine protects the land, protects the borders, protects the people."
Siam noted that Palestine and Japan have been working together to achieve a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel.
French President Emmanuel Macron also officially recognized a Palestinian state at the United Nations on Monday.
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