Japan To Impose Sanctions On Three Hamas Members

The Japanese government will freeze assets and impose sanctions on payments and capital transactions on three senior Hamas members, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi said.

The three individuals were believed to be involved in the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel and in a position to use funds to finance such terrorist activities, the top Japanese government spokesperson said.

The move comes after Tokyo in October imposed sanctions on nine people and a company over their alleged links to Hamas.

Meanwhile, Tokyo has attempted to walk a fine line on the war in Gaza, striving to balance relations with the United States, its closest ally, and its ties to energy-supplying partners in the Middle East.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio condemned the October 7 attacks on Israel and called for the immediate release of Hamas’s captives while expressing concern about civilian deaths and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Additionally Japan earlier this month supported a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza, after abstaining from a similar vote in October.

Report says last week, Japanese container shipper Ocean Network Express announced it would reroute vessels away from the Red Sea to avoid being targeted by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have ramped up attacks on commercial shipping since the start of the war in Gaza.

ALJAZEERA/Christopher Ojilere