Israel not invited to Nagasaki

Nagasaki's mayor, Shiro Suzuki, announced that Israel will not be invited to the annual peace ceremony on August 9 commemorating the 1945 atomic bombing, a decision attributed to concerns over maintaining a calm atmosphere amid ongoing violence in Gaza. This announcement coincided with Israel's assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. While Nagasaki has opted out, Hiroshima has invited Israel to its ceremony on August 6, coupled with a call for an immediate ceasefire, raising accusations of double standards due to the exclusion of Russia and Belarus from similar events. Local protests against Israel's participation in Hiroshima are planned, reflecting widespread discontent with the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in significant Palestinian casualties. The situation highlights a growing divide in Japan's approach to international relations concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both cities continue to emphasize the need for peace and remembrance of nuclear war victims at their respective ceremonies.