Israeli envoy attends ceremony marking Nagasaki atomic bombing, a year after he was excluded over Gaza war

By Agencies 9 August 2025, 10:42 am

2 Edit

Israel's ambassador to Japan Gilad Cohen (C) arrives to attend the annual memorial ceremony for the victims at the Peace Park in Nagasaki on August 9, 2025, to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing during WWII. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

Israeli Ambassador to Japan attends ceremonies in Nagasaki, marking 80 years since the atomic bombing of the city. Last year, he was not invited over the war in Gaza

This year, Nagasaki invited representatives from all countries to attend the ceremony.

The ceremony last year stirred controversy due to the absence of the US ambassador and other Western envoys in response to the Japanese city’s refusal to invite Israel.

Nearly 100 countries were set to participate in this year’s commemorations, including Russia, which had not been invited since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

China notably notified the city that it would not be present without providing a reason.