TOKYO (AFP) — Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso told his Israeli counterpart Ehud Olmert Wednesday to halt air strikes that have killed at least 390 Palestinians and injured thousands in the Gaza Strip.
In a 20-minute telephone conversation, Aso expressed Japan's regret and urged Olmert to "swiftly stop the offensives", as many civilians were killed and harmed, the Japanese foreign ministry said in a statement.
While condemning rocket attacks by "Palestinian militants", Aso said "it is regrettable that the (Israeli) attacks have caused widespread damages, including deaths and injuries of civilians."
He also urged Israel to allow the transportation of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
In response, Olmert stressed that the attacks against Hamas were being made in self-defence and that Israel was making efforts to avoid harming civilians.
In the talks that took place around 0600 GMT, Olmert said Israel was committed to the peace talks and promised "cooperation" over delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to the foreign ministry.
Since being launched on Saturday, the Israeli offensive has killed at least 390 people, including 42 children, and wounded more than 1,900 others, according to Gaza medics.
The intensive Israeli bombardment has killed several senior Hamas officials and reduced much of the Islamist movement's infrastructure in Gaza to rubble, but have failed to stop rockets being fired into Israel.
Gaza militants have fired back more than 250 rockets, killing three civilians and one soldier and wounding several dozen people.
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