A candle-lit event has been held in Tokyo by people calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Six non-governmental organizations in Japan, which provide support to Gaza, jointly held the event on Saturday at a temple in the Japanese capital.
Each organization reported their activities aimed at improving the nutritional and mental health conditions of children in Gaza prior to a speech by a doctor who was born in Gaza.
Izzeldin Abuelaish is now visiting Japan. He lost his three daughters and a niece in 2009 when his home in Gaza was attacked by Israeli forces.
Abuelaish, who is also a human rights activist, said that the world is watching as people in Gaza are facing “mass murder, mass destruction, mass forced displacement, mass starvation, mass suffering on a daily basis.”
He stressed that the suffering needs to be stopped, not to be watched, and that the world should take action to stop it.
Participants gathered around candle-like LED lights that spelled out “GAZA.” They offered silent prayers for victims of the conflict and called for a ceasefire.
A woman in her 60s said she visited Gaza around 20 years ago. She said all she can do now is to send donations, but wishes to do whatever she can for the people of Gaza.