- Israelis ‘listen to message of peace… but continue ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank,’ Siam tells Anadolu from Hiroshima

ISTANBUL 

Inviting an Israeli representative to the commemoration of the US bombing of Hiroshima "does not serve the purpose" of conveying peace, the Palestinian envoy to Japan told Anadolu on Wednesday.

Ambassador Waleed Siam attended the 80th anniversary of the world’s only atomic bombing event in western Japan, where approximately 55,000 people gathered at the Peace Memorial Park to pay tribute to the US bombing victims.

It has been nearly seven years since a representative of the General Mission of Palestine in Tokyo last attended the commemoration event, which began at 8.15 a.m. local time (2315GMT Tuesday), the exact moment the US dropped the bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945.

The blast destroyed the city and killed an estimated 140,000 people by the end of that year. Thousands more suffered from radiation-related illnesses in the decades that followed.

A second bomb hit Nagasaki on Aug. 9, killing approximately 70,000 more. Japan formally surrendered on Aug. 15, 1945, marking the end of the war.

Last year, Hiroshima authorities, unlike Nagasaki, refused to send an invitation to the
Palestinian mission, triggering backlash.

This year, representatives from a record 120 countries, regions, and the EU attended the anniversary event.

Israeli ambassador Gilad Cohen was one among them.

“It is regrettable that you invite a representative of a war criminal government to commemorate nuclear bombing,” said Siam, addressing the local authorities in Hiroshima.

After last year's controversy over inviting Israel amid the Gaza conflict, Hiroshima now "notifies" countries about the memorial instead of sending invitations.

“They (Israelis) listen to messages of peace… but continue (the) ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank,” Siam told Anadolu over the phone from the city of Hiroshima, which saw a record 2.26 million museum visitors in the past year.

“Why invite them (Israelis) when they are committing war crimes? Inviting Israel to Hiroshima has not served a purpose,” said Siam.

Ambassador Waleed Siam (right) - (Photo Credit: @PalestineEmb)

Recognizing Palestine does not harm peace process'

Calling it “a shame” to invite Israelis, since they do not listen to anything, Siam said he attended the event in solidarity with the people of Hiroshima and the people of Japan.

“Peace is needed around the world, especially in Palestine,” he said, advocating for an end to the use of weapons of mass destruction.

“Israel should open its nuclear arsenal for inspection,” he said. “It should not have it, as Israel is a danger to the world.”

Israel has not declared that it possesses nuclear weapons; however, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Tel Aviv has approximately 80 nuclear weapons.

“We are afraid… Israel is crazy enough to nuke not just Palestine but (the) whole region,” warned Palestinian ambassador Siam.

In Hiroshima, Siam met with Mayor Kazumi Matsui and other officials, as well as activists and supporters.

There were “many demonstrations for free Palestine and urging an end to war in Gaza,” he said.

On a growing trend towards recognizing an independent State of Palestine, Siam said Japan has “always been a supporter of Palestine and… is considering (being) on the right side of history” vis-a-vis recognition of Palestine.

“Recognizing Palestine as an independent state does not harm the peace process,” he said, hoping Japan would follow France, the UK, and Canada, among others, to “announce recognition of Palestine.”