American Invest Hub
  • Politics
  • Investing
  • Business
  • Latest News

American Invest Hub

  • Politics
  • Investing
  • Business
  • Latest News
Latest News

Israel not invited to ceremony commemorating 1945 atomic bombing of Nagasaki

by admin August 1, 2024
August 1, 2024
Israel not invited to ceremony commemorating 1945 atomic bombing of Nagasaki

Israel will not be invited to this year’s peace ceremony commemorating the 1945 atomic bombing of Nagasaki to promote a “peaceful and somber atmosphere” at the August 9 event, the city’s mayor told local media Wednesday.

Both cities had been under pressure from activists and bomb survivor groups to exclude Israel due to its actions in Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed since Israeli began targeting militant group Hamas following the October 7 attack.

Nagasaki’s mayor Shiro Suzuki told reporters Wednesday that Israel’s exclusion was due to security concerns and was not a political decision.

“I would like to emphasize that this decision was not based on political considerations, but rather on our desire to hold the ceremony to commemorate the victims of the atomic bombings in a peaceful and solemn atmosphere, and to ensure that the ceremony goes smoothly,” he said, calling the decision “difficult.”

The arrangement differs with Hiroshima, the first city hit with an atomic bomb during the closing stages of World War II, that ultimately led to Japan’s unconditional surrender.

Every year diplomats are invited to peace ceremonies in both cities, held within days of each other, to reflect on the importance of peace and perils of deploying nuclear weapons.

Hiroshima’s annual peace ceremony is the larger of the two and representatives from 115 countries and the European Union are set to attend this year.

Tens of thousands of people were killed by the 1945 atomic bombs, both instantly and in the months and years to come due to radiation sickness.

In a post on X, Israel’s Ambassador to Japan, Gilad Cohen described Nagasaki’s decision as “regrettable,” adding it “sends a wrong message to the world.”

“Israel is exercising its full right and moral obligation to defend itself and its citizens and will continue to do so. There is no comparison between Israel, which is being brutally attacked by terrorist organizations and any other conflict, any attempt to present it otherwise distorts the reality,” he said.

Israel has repeatedly rejected accusations from critics including rights groups and experts that it has broken international humanitarian law with the breadth of its response to Hamas’ attacks. It argues its war is against Hamas, not Palestinians.

A controversial invitation

The ceremony in Nagasaki will take place at the city’s Peace Park on August 9, marking the day the US military dropped the second atomic bomb on Japan, three days after that of Hiroshima.

Nagasaki officials had previously indicated some reluctance to host Israel at the event.

In June, Suzuki sent a letter to Israel calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, leaving an invitation to the ceremony on hold due to a risk of “unexpected situations” such as protests, according to Kyodo News.

On Wednesday, Suzuki said he had not seen any changes in recent weeks that would lessen the risk of inviting Israel.

Hiroshima authorities don’t appear to have the same security concerns, despite having sidelined Russia and Belarus to order “to ensure the ceremony goes smoothly,” according to a spokesperson.

Both countries have been excluded from the event since 2022 when Moscow invaded Ukraine.

Russia used Belarus as one of the launch pads for its assault and later moved some of its tactical nuclear weapons there.

Some local activists and peace advocates accused Hiroshima authorities of double standards for excluding Russia and Belarus but allowing Israel to take part.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
China doping controversy casts a shadow over Olympic swimming
next post
Maduro warns he’ll call for a ‘new revolution’ if forced by ‘North American imperialism’

Related Posts

Gold hits near 1-month high on safe-haven demand;...

December 11, 2024

Problems mount for UK PM Rishi Sunak as...

February 17, 2024

Israeli military intelligence chief quits over Hamas-led October...

April 23, 2024

What is Trump’s $5 million ‘gold card’? A...

February 26, 2025

July ends 13-month streak of global heat records...

August 9, 2024

Far right wins first round of France’s parliamentary...

July 2, 2024

How a likely AI-generated image of Gaza took...

June 1, 2024

Germany’s economic turnaround: PMI jumps above 50, signaling...

January 26, 2025

From Alibaba to BYD: DeepSeek breakthrough fuels a...

February 12, 2025

Plane crashes during takeoff in Nepal, killing at...

July 24, 2024

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Latest News

    • How Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown may tank the labor market

      August 4, 2025
    • Trump’s tariff threat looms over India’s Russian oil deals

      August 4, 2025
    • Trump moves nuclear submarines near Russia: what triggered the move and what’s ahead

      August 3, 2025
    • BOE rate cuts offer little relief as UK households face mounting financial strain

      August 3, 2025
    • Retail investors shift focus to Europe as US valuations stretch

      August 3, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (3,583)
    • Investing (2,703)
    • Latest News (2,031)
    • Politics (1,530)
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: americaninvesthub.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 americaninvesthub.com | All Rights Reserved