In Israel last week, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for the “immediate release of the hostages.” Two Japanese citizens were captured by IS and they threatened to kill them in 72 hours if their request for $200 million was not met.
At a press conference in Jerusalem, the Japanese Prime Minister addressed the chilling tape that was released that same morning, showing the two Japanese hostages on their knees. Between them was John the Jihadist, with his knife. According to him, if the terror organization does not receive $200 million within 72 hours, they are going to kill the hostages.
“I demand that you do not hurt them,” Abe announced. The Japanese Prime Minister declared that saving their lives is at the top of his priorities and called for the immediate release of the Japanese citizens, stressing that the terrorists’ actions are “inexcusable. The extremism of IS endangers the international community. I condemn all terrorist actions and call upon the world to fight this phenomenon.” He added and said that he feels resentment and hatred toward the kidnappers.
“Japanese Prime Minister, although you are more than 8,000 kilometers away from the Islamic State, you are a part of this crusade,” John the Jihadist stated in the video. “You contributed in your fear, $100 million to kill our women and children, and to destroy the houses of Muslims. As such, the life of one of these hostages is worth $100 million,” he continued. “In order to stop the spread of the Islamic State, you contributed $100 million and as such, the life of this hostage is worth the same sum.” He then addressed the Japanese people, demanding that they put pressure on the government to pay within 72 hours or the two would be killed.
According to the reports in Japan, the hostages are Kenji Goto Jogo and Haruna Yukawa. Yukawa, a private military contractor in his 40s, was kidnapped in Syria in August. It is unclear why he was traveling there. Goto is a journalist who traveled to Syria to report on the war.
As far as Western intelligence knows, a British journalist named John Cantlie is also in the hands of the terrorist organization and has become something of a spokesman for the terror organization, alongside an American woman, age 26, whose name has not been published upon the request of the American authorities.
The Anti-Terror Wing of the Japanese Foreign Ministry watched the video and the staff analyzed the threatening message. They stated that it was credible. The Japanese Foreign Ministry does not intend to give in to the terrorism: “Such a threat is unacceptable and we are outraged,” they said.
By Gal Cohen/www.jerusalemonline.com
