Japan’s Ishiba Takes on Gaza, Populism — and His Own Political Survival

Ishiba’s Long Morning at the Park Lane: Reform, Gaza, and His Own Political Future | Picture: Japan's Mission to the U.N.

By: Ahmed Fathi

New York: It was still night when reporters lined up at the Park Lane Hotel in Manhattan, told to check in as early as 6:00 a.m. for security screening. By the time the ballroom filled, the choreography was unmistakably Japanese: international media seated to the right of the podium, Japanese press to the left, and, furthest left still, government officials arranged neatly by rank and seniority.

For a luxury hotel, the ballroom came with one odd frustration — no Wi-Fi. Connection required a guest’s full name, email, and room number. A cheerful staffer supplied me with a roaming hotspot, but as the staffer moved, so did the signal, leaving me mid-upload groaning as connections dropped. It was an oddly comic backdrop to a morning otherwise thick with formality.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba began with sweeping prepared remarks that stretched well past the patience of the room. He addressed Security Council reform, Gaza, nuclear disarmament, Asia’s post-war legacy, and the dangers of populism. On Gaza he was blunt: “Israel must halt its ground operations immediately,” he declared, calling the humanitarian toll “catastrophic and intolerable.” Should Israel continue, he warned, Japan would take “new measures.”

On Palestine, Ishiba walked a careful line:

“Recognition of Palestine cannot be symbolic. What matters is a sustainable state that coexists with Israel. Hamas must release hostages without delay and hand over weapons to the Palestinian Authority.” He reminded the press that Japan had already invested nearly three decades of state-building, training more than 7,000 Palestinian civil servants.

On UN reform, he insisted both permanent and non-permanent seats must be expanded:

“Since the UN’s founding, membership has nearly quadrupled, yet the Council’s structure remains unchanged. There is no perfect model, but what matters is making things better than they are now.”

Then came the Q&A. with the journalists

Japanese reporters pressing PM Ishiba on foreign and domestic policy | Picture: Japan's Mission to the U.N.

Japanese reporters pressed him first: why no immediate recognition of Palestine, even as G7 states move in that direction? Ishiba replied that timing was crucial, not symbolism. “What matters is whether Palestine can exist sustainably,” he said. “Approval for its own sake is not enough. Japan must support both economic self-reliance and effective governance.”

They also asked about the LDP leadership race back home. Ishiba’s answer reflected both caution and confidence: “This election must be about policies and about what role the Liberal Democratic Party plays as the people’s party. The reforms we have undertaken in the past year — wages, regional revitalization, disaster response — must not be reversed. The next leader must build on them.”

Here Ishiba’s own political reality loomed large. He is facing re-election just one year into the job. His leadership, however, is under pressure after electoral setbacks and criticism within his own party. While some polls show voters still back him, the balance of power in parliamentary politics is fragile — and in democracies, elections can swing either way.

Asking PM Shigeru Ishiba about Japan's role in building more diverse trade system through the U.N. | Picture: Japan's Mission to the U.N.

When I was called upon to ask a question, I asked whether his stark warnings about populism and multilateralism were meant for governments or for ordinary citizens questioning the UN’s relevance — and whether Japan could help build a more diverse trade system through the UN.

Ishiba leaned forward, his tone sharper than before: “The essence of populism is irresponsibility. If one simply gains support in the moment, that is considered enough. I do not believe such thinking should exist in domestic politics or international society.”

He continued:

“Democracy is not sufficient just in form. What gives it substance is sound journalism — not chasing circulation, not clinging to power, but showing real insight. Liberalism is often simply translated as ‘freedom,’ but I believe its essence is tolerance.”

Finally, an international colleague asked about the Quad — Japan’s ties with the United States, Australia, and India in the Indo-Pacific. Ishiba stressed alignment on shared values:

“Japan, the U.S., Australia, and India are committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Together we must address not only regional security but also economic development, including in Africa. This cooperation will only grow in importance.”

By the time the last questions wrapped, daylight had spilled across Central Park through the hotel tall windows. Some reporters were still muttering about Wi-Fi; others typed furiously to meet deadlines. Ishiba, however, had delivered his message: Japan would stand as a steady voice — pushing for Security Council reform, insisting on a sustainable two-state solution, warning against populism, and grounding it all in the reminder that democracy only lives when responsibility, tolerance, and truth prevail.