Japan will provide ¥861 million in grant aid to Palestinian territories for health and hygiene initiatives, the Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry said Wednesday that the aid will be used to provide health and medical services for residents and repair medical facilities in the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank, in cooperation with the World Health Organization.

Although the Japanese government is not recognizing a Palestinian state for now, it plans to continue and strengthen its support based on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

On Tuesday in New York, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said in his speech at a U.N. General Assembly meeting that it is a matter of when, not whether, to recognize Palestinian statehood.

Ishiba said he condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli military's recent ground offensive in Gaza City, calling for an immediate halt.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Ishiba said Japan will participate in new efforts to tackle the financial crisis of Palestine.

"As Palestine is set to be invited as a responsible member of the international community (in the future), it is necessary to build a responsible governance system there," Ishiba said.

"We will participate in the new effort with France, Norway, Saudi Arabia and other like-minded countries to ensure the governance of Palestine," he said.