Western envoys to skip Nagasaki memorial event after Israel snub

Ambassadors from Western countries including the United States will skip a ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki after Israel was snubbed, officials said on Wednesday.

Nagasaki's mayor said last week that Israel's ambassador Gilad Cohen was not invited to Friday's event in the southern Japanese city because of the risk of possible protests over the Gaza conflict.

The US and British embassies said on Wednesday that their ambassadors would not take part as a result, and that their countries would be represented by lower-ranking diplomats.

Media reports said that Australia, Italy, Canada and the European Union, who together with the United States, Britain and Germany signed a strongly worded joint letter to Nagasaki's mayor last month, would follow suit.

US ambassador Rahm Emanuel will not attend "after the mayor of Nagasaki politicised the event by not inviting the Israeli ambassador", an embassy spokesperson told AFP.

Call for restraint

Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for a restrained response to Israel's suspected killing of the leader of Hamas, advising against attacks on Israeli civilians, two senior Iranian sources said.

The message, according to the sources, was delivered on Monday by Sergei Shoigu, a senior ally of the Kremlin leader, in meetings with top Iranian officials as the Islamic Republic weighs its response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh arrives at the Iranian parliament to attend the swearing-in ceremony on July 30. AP

Calling for calm in the Middle East, top US national security leaders said on Tuesday that they and allies are directly pressing Israel, Iran and others to avoid escalating the conflict, even as the US moved more troops to the region and threatened retaliation if American forces are attacked.

"It’s urgent that everyone in the region take stock of the situation, understand the risk of miscalculation, and make decisions that will calm tensions, not exacerbate them,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at the close of a meeting with Australian leaders.

At the same time, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin noted the attack on Monday on US forces in Iraq by an Iranian-backed militia group, which injured seven personnel, and made it clear that the US won't hesitate to respond.

Blinken and Austin met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, to discuss efforts to expand military cooperation and broaden diplomatic efforts in the Asia Pacific.

This picture shows flares dropped by Israeli forces into the Gaza Strip. AFP

But they led their remarks with calls for de-escalation and support for a ceasefire. "Australia also underlines the risks to all in the region of escalation and of miscalculation,” said Wong, calling this a "decisive moment” for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.

New leader

Their comments came as Hamas named Yahya Sinwar, as its new leader, fuelling fears that the announcement will provoke Israel and that tensions will escalate into broader war.

It's been 10 months since the Gaza conflict began. The Palestinian territory faces a a severe humanitarian crisis as its Health Ministry says the death toll in the enclave is nearing 40,000.

Inside Gaza, the only corridor for humanitarian aid to enter the south has been shut down because of fighting in the area.

Agencies