Japan’s Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that the actions will freeze the assets of people and a business that have contributed to the financing of Hamas, the organisation that controls the Gaza Strip.
The sanctions come after the US announced comparable actions earlier this month.
Tokyo has tried to balance its links to energy-supplying allies in the Middle East and to the United States, its closest ally, while maintaining a cautious stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan has expressed worry over civilian deaths in Gaza and the worsening humanitarian situation in the enclave, in addition to denouncing Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israel and calling for the group’s prisoners to be released immediately.
At least 1,405 individuals, mostly civilians, were murdered in Hamas’s surprise attack, according to to Israeli officials. Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip has killed at least 8,306 Palestinians, including more than 3,400 children, Gaza officials said.
Video from Hamas realising hostages last week
Last week, Japanese authorities called on Israel to halt its attack on Gaza to allow humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave. However,
Tokyo abstained on Friday from voting on a UN resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
Japan’s Foreign Ministry Yoko Kamikawa said her country abstained from voting, in part because the resolution did not explicitly condemn Hamas, echoing the position of many countries including Australia and India.
A non-binding resolution proposed by Jordan was adopted with an overwhelming majority of 120 votes.
The 14 countries counted also included the United States and Israel.