A Hiroshima Survivor Was Surprised That Gaza Fighters Did Not Win The Nobel Peace Prize

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Toshiyuki Mimaki, a survivor of the Hiroshima bombings, expressed surprise that those who defended Gaza did not win the Nobel Peace Prize, as they accepted it on behalf of Nihon Hidankyo on Friday. At a news conference, Mimaki warned against the use of nuclear weapons, citing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as reminiscent of Japan’s plight during World War II.

What he said: Nihon Hidankyo, also known as the Hibakusha, is a group of atomic bomb survivors who advocate the abolition of nuclear weapons. The group was declared winner of this year Nobel Peace Prizesurprising co-head Mimaki. “They chose Nihon Hidankyo? I thought those who fight hard for peace in Gaza would deserve it,” he said told reporters. Witnessing the horrors of nuclear war as a young child, he expressed concern about escalation. warning“If Russia uses (nuclear weapons) against Ukraine, Israel against Gaza, it will not end there.” He also drew a striking parallel between the suffering of Gaza and Japanese children in the aftermath of the 1945 bombing. proverb“Bleeding children are being held in Gaza. It’s just like Japan 80 years ago.”
Israel answers: In one X message On Saturday, Israeli Ambassador to Japan Gilad Cohen congratulated Nihon Hidankyo, but sharply criticized Mimaki’s comparison of Gaza to post-war Japan, calling it “outrageous and baseless.” Noting the group’s lack of statements on the events by October 7, 2023Cohen argued that such comments “distort history and dishonor the victims” of Japan’s atomic bombings. The ambassador also reiterated that Gaza is ruled by Hamas, “a murderous terrorist organization” that is committing a double war crime by “attacking Israeli civilians, including women and children, while using its own people as human shields.”