Israeli ambassador calls Hiroshima-Gaza comparison by Nobel winner a distortion of history
Emotional Hiroshima survivor draws parallels between Gaza and WWII devastation.
SHAH ALAM – Israel's ambassador to Japan has slammed Toshiyuki Mimaki, a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, for drawing comparisons between the suffering of children in Gaza and the devastation in Hiroshima nearly 80 years ago.
Mimaki, 82, who also the co-chair of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organisations (Nihon Hidankyo) was deeply moved upon hearing that Nihon Hidankyo had been awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.
In an Instagram video posted by @theprophetspath, Mimaki appeared visibly emotional upon learning about his organisation’s Nobel Peace Prize recognition.
The video, believed to be from a live interview with Japan’s NHK on Oct 11 during a press conference in Tokyo, captured his heartfelt reaction to the announcement.
“I never dreamed this could happen. They chose Nihon Hidankyo?
“I thought those fighting for peace in Gaza would deserve it," he said in the video.
In his acceptance speech, Mimaki compared the images of wounded children in Gaza to his own childhood memories of post-war Japan.
“The images of the children in Gaza covered with blood held by their parents remind me of Japan 80 years ago
“Children lost their fathers and lost their mothers with the nuclear bomb. They became orphans,” he said.
To this, Israel's ambassador to Japan, Gilad Cohen condemned Mimaki’s remarks on Oct 13, as "outrageous and baseless," accusing him of distorting historical events.
“I congratulate Nihon Hidankyo on winning the Nobel Peace Prize, recognising their work for peace and justice.
“However, co-chair Mimaki's comparison of Gaza to Japan after WWII is outrageous and baseless,” he said on social media platform X.
He stressed that Gaza is governed by Hamas, which he described as a terrorist organisation that targets Israeli civilians while endangering Palestinian lives as well.
The ambassador also noted that Mimaki had made no mention of the Oct 7 attacks on Israel, which left over 1,200 dead and hundreds more kidnapped by Hamas.
“Such comparisons distort history and dishonour the victims,” he added.
The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organisations was founded in 1956 to amplify the voices of atomic bomb survivors and advocate for nuclear disarmament.
Mimaki, who was only three years old when the atomic bomb struck Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, has dedicated his life to opposing nuclear weapons, drawing from the lasting scars of his experiences.
According to the Health Ministy in Gaza, over 44,400 Palestinians, including more than 16,765 children, have been killed in recent Israeli attacks.
