"Israel" attacks Nobel Prize-winning Hiroshima survivor for comments on Gaza crisis

The Israeli Occupation launched a sharp attack against Toshiyuki Mimaki, the co-chair of the Nihon Hidankyo organization representing survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, after he compared the devastation in Gaza to the aftermath of Hiroshima, Middle East Eye reported.

In a press conference held in Tokyo, Mimaki expressed profound concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stating, “In Gaza, bleeding children are being held by their parents. It’s like in Japan 80 years ago.”

His remarks drew immediate anger from Israeli Occupation officials, with "Israel’s" ambassador to Japan denouncing the comparison as “outrageous and baseless.” The ambassador accused Mimaki of distorting historical events and dishonoring the memory of atomic bomb victims.

The controversy comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions. In August, both the American and British ambassadors to Japan announced they would skip a memorial ceremony for the victims of the 1945 bombings because the city’s mayor did not extend an invitation to the "Israeli" ambassador.

In similar context, some "Israeli" ministers controversially suggested the use of nuclear weapons against the region, labeling Gaza a potential “slaughterhouse” and calling for its total annihilation. Such statements have been cited by South Africa as evidence of genocidal intent in its ongoing case against "Israel" at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The historical backdrop of Hiroshima is stark, with the atomic bombing claiming at least 140,000 lives on August 6, 1945, followed by another 74,000 in Nagasaki three days later. Nihon Hidankyo was founded by survivors to commemorate these tragic events and to campaign for nuclear disarmament.

Currently, the situation in Gaza remains dire, with the Palestinian health ministry reporting at least 62 Palestinian fatalities and 220 injuries in the past 24 hours alone. Since the escalation of violence on October 7, 2023, the total death toll has reached approximately 42,289, with over 98,684 wounded and at least 10,000 still missing, presumed dead under rubble.