Loud screams, tearful cries, signs raised up in various languages: the residents of Hiroshima, Japan, which had subjected to atomic bombing by America in 1945, marched in support of Gaza and demanded an end to brutal war enacted by Israel against the Gaza Strip.
Al-Masry Al-Youm saw this firsthand during its visit to the city, specifically in front of the historic building that bears witness to America’s grave sin, known as the Atomic Bomb Dome (Genbaku Dome) on the banks of the Motoyasu River.
Now, the nearby streets are filled with the anger of Japan’s citizens towards the brutal crimes taking place in the Gaza Strip – many protesters carried images of the atrocities committed in Gaza and of its victims, such as Palestinian journalist Anas al-Sharif.
One of the organizers of the 90th week of the event, Ayu Namie – a professor at Hiroshima City University -told Al-Masry Al-Youm, in tears, that since the first day of the war on Gaza she had always planned to organize a weekly demonstration in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome to express her anger towards Israel.
She explained that what Gaza is being subjected to was even more heinous than what her ancestors faced in Hiroshima in August 1945, as Japan was a large empire fully able to rebuild while Gaza has no such power.
Tanami stated that she stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people in the face of the tragedy that Gaza is facing, including famine and ongoing killing.
She added that she visited the Gaza Strip, having always wanted to travel to the Palestinian territories since 10 years before the war.
“I know that the Palestinian people are oppressed, and I learned from them the meaning of life. Gaza has become a part of my life, even though I am not an Arab. However, I learned from there the meaning of how to struggle and defend one’s homeland,” she said.
Writer and political analyst Yoshimei said that two years ago he knew nothing about Palestine or Gaza, but after the war he gained a profound understanding of the suffering of its people.
Protestor Mitsoko, 70, enthusiastically chanted that she hated Israel and called for an immediate end to the war.
She expressed her deep hope that she would still be around to witness the end of the war firsthand, and for the world to enjoy peace at last.
