In the face of renewed Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, Japan called for an “early easing of tensions” in the besieged Palestinian enclave, Anadolu Agency reports.

“Japan hopes for early easing of tensions in Gaza,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told Israeli President Isaac Herzog, according to Tokyo-based Kyodo News.

Kishida conveyed those expectations during a meeting on the sidelines of the UN COP28 climate conference in Dubai.