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Kozo Okamoto, the only surviving veteran of the Japanese Red Army’s Lod Airport operation, passed away in Beirut on 23 July 2026 at the age of 78. His passing elicited tributes from across the spectrum of P*lestinian and Lebanese resistance groups. He died of old age as a free man, yet many thousands of miles from his homeland of Japan. Both were poignant testaments to one of the most unlikely stories of international solidarity with the P*lestinian cause.
The Japanese Red Army (JRA) was founded in 1971 and relocated to Lebanon shortly after under the leadership of Fusako Shigenobu. There it joined forces with the Popular Front for the Liberation of P*lestine (PFLP), having identified the P*lestinian struggle as a key ‘international base area’ for the world revolution.
In 1972, the JRA gained worldwide notoriety by mounting an audacious attack on Lod (now Ben Gurion) Airport near Tel Aviv. The operation led to the de*ths of 26 Isr*eli settlers as well as Okamoto’s two JRA comrades, Tsuyoshi Okudaira and Yasuyuki Yasuda. In direct retaliation, the Mossad as*assinated famed P*lestinian writer and PFLP spokesman Ghassan Kanafani just weeks later.
Okamoto himself was sentenced to life imprisonment and severely tort*red for 13 years in Isr*eli dungeons. He was released to Lebanon alongside 1,149 other prisoners, including the future leaders of H*mas and P*lestinian Islamic J*had, in a 1985 prisoner exchange. In 1997 Okamoto was arrested and threatened with deportation to Japan, but three years later became the first person ever granted political asylum in Lebanon after mass protests in his defence.
Okamoto lived out the rest of his days among his P*lestinian and Lebanese comrades, never again setting foot in his homeland. His former JRA commander Fusako Shigenobu, who was jailed for 16 years upon her own return to Japan, eulogised him as ‘a fighter alongside those resisting the Isr*eli occupation in pursuit of the liberation of P*lestine’.
Saheed Olayinka-Olaiya Shittu
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They were not Arabs
They were not Muslims
They were just HUMANS who felt the need to fight for other humans' freedom instead of those who PRETEN their religion supports evil and tell people top "leave our religion alone" Adeolu Ojedeji HUMANITY IS BEYOND RELIGION.
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Ebrima Jallow
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This is interesting
May God rest his soul !
All true revolutionaries are brothers wherever they Maybe !
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Yuz Muzaffar
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This part of history has been kept away from many school textbooks, including mine. Now Im intrigued...
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Glyn Harries
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Probably because what he did, murdering 17 Puerto Rican Christian pilgrims was so awful.
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Daniel Matamoros
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Yuz Muzaffar prophet môhâmmêd (pęńīsés be upon him) has opened our eyes
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Jet Shuaib
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May his story inspire others to emulate his sense of justice and in standing with the oppressed.
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Boedi Adjie Santosa
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He - along with Fusako - was my liberator idol for Palestinian cause when I was young
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Amr Maihoub
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The idea that someone beliefs in something whatever that thing is right or wrong is amazing. A Japanese beliefs in the idea of communism to the point ending up in a foreign land that’s completely different to his own. His storey reminds me of Hiro Onada. I think human being are dogmatic by default, but I also think it’s a Japanese thing as well regarding will and determination.
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Emilio Macias
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Those japanese are firm with there ideals in Mexico there was another japanese that where in the Mexican revolución he was a doctor well know for he's honor he would surrender to the army but not be underdog to no army but to the wounded soldier be blessed those samurai's
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Tan Villareal Beltran
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imagine allying someone not because you share the same values but because you share a common enemy.
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Hriding Diving
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Much respect for a true human with soul and compassion and action. It is very hard. Sacrifice so much especially when it is a choice not circumstance.
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Corben R Carney
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They need this guy's face all over shirts like Che Guevara. Ya can't beat the story's of freedom fighters especially when they are fighting for people that are not their own. What a G
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Pius Eugene
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The 1975 AIA Building siege in Kuala Lumpur was a terrorist attack where five militant members of the Japanese Red Army seized 53 hostages, including the U.S. consul and Swedish chargé d'affaires, demanding and winning the release of imprisoned comrades before flying to Libya.
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Chik Amir Ħ Maarof
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Okamoto converted to Islam, then was called Ahmad al Yabani. May Allah rank him among the shuhada and grant him the highest station in paradise, Amin al Fatihah.
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Lukman Babalola
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Woow, this part of the Palestinian history has been kept away from the public. Rest in power, Kozo, you will be forever remembered as one of the great humans of the world. Thank you.
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Zulnizam Ijul
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the real LAST SAMURAI type..
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Hrod Gari
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Akira Toriyama even immortalized them with the Red Ruban Army
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Aqil Aky
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48 Ronin !!!
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Soomaali Baan Ahay
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A hero to all progressive people all over the world. In solidarity with Palestine Liberation Forces, OKOZO OKAMOTO wrote his name in the stars. RIP.
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Aisha MK
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May he inspire a million more to take his place. To stand on the side of the oppressed is to stand with the true .
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Alsidry Sharif
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Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. Respect and Salute to a fallen Freedom Fighter.
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Doshi Pri
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I oray for the day when an army marches to liberate the holy land from the tyrants and the oppressors.
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Vilma Morales
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A true hero
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Leon Besagni
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they fear the samurai
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Nug Katjasungkana
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Glory to Comrade Kozo Okamoto! Red salute!
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Riccardo Lucas
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Salute to the freedom fighters , we multiply…
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Ahmad Hamada
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May Allah have mercy on his soul, you will never forget
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Alvian Nagajava
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he was a ronin
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Izwan Hady
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Hope red army still active..palestine need all kind of help ..
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Joseph John
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If all Japanese had the same courage and heart
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Rancher Koikai
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A noble soul. May His Soul Be Rewarded in the Hereafter for the principled lessons he has left for mankind in empathy and sacrifice.
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Munira Musa
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Salute respect his spirit
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Mekic Lejla-Emina Medina
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Respect to a Hero
rest in peace..!
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Jason Fretz
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They did a great thing too bad they were caught
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Dominic Frechette
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Extremely based
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Fazil Cassim
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Lion of our Time!
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Nthato Kubheka
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A great man. A true warrior.
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Mustapha Nuhu
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One without number two,kozo.he was a great man of honour
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Aminu Abubakar
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An indefatigable hero is gone! Rest in eternal peace.
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Gezgin Filozof
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Legendary man - respect
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Amir Bobby Behlim
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Amar Amar
Even Miyagis backed it
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Amjad Ali
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Salute brother
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Nissa Andig
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May you rest eternally. The humanity at its level. Salute.
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Kaweh Karimi
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rest in peace brother of all free men
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Valentine Nickolson
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Rest East, champ
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Garrett Tallent
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Red salute
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Ibraheem Muhammad Hamza
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A hero has fallen... Rest in peace
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Lamu Jonah
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He's a hero
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Semper Fidelis
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Samurai yg kita kena respect Dato Aliff Alex Shafiq Izzuan
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Prateek Sanjay
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Alvin Leong Oscar Peacocke Today I learned there was a Japanese left wing terrorist group in the Middle East fighting alongside Arabs against Western powers.
They truly do fear the samurai.
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Cwenga Chungwa Stemele
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Was the Japanese Red army communist like the USSR red army ?
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Carlos Castia
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평화롭게 쉬어라, 팔레스타인 해방과 같은 정의로운 목적을 위한 배달의 예시
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See original (Spanish)
Firdaus Jemahat
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Respect for a man of honor and justice.
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Shahed Fazluddin
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May Allah accept their struggle for justice and humanity
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Steve Allen
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Missing word is: PALESTINIAN!
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Bedjo Untung
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Great loss. My condolences.
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Rosli Zainul
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True freedom fighter..
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Stokis Beras JB
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RIP our hero!
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Basel Zaki
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Great warrior God bless his soul
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Shan Jami
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Rest in peace legend..
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Bruno Drweski
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합리적인 사람. 우리는 새로운 빨간 군대를 기다리고 있습니다.
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See original (Polish)
Willie Howard
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They didn’t kill 26 settlers. The majority were Catholic women pilgrims.
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Benjamin Johnstone
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What a story
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Mahlomola Saka
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Never heard of him before, shows you how many people around the world are with Palestine. I bet even in the middle east the masses are in support of Iran against both the US and ISRA-HELL.
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Sebastian Quintero
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There has to be a reason why the mossad let him live. They could have targeted him at any second
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Mawusi Ture
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May he Rest in Power . . . .
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Mohamed Talhah
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Respect for Kozo Okamoto
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Zam Azam
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May your soul rest in peace... Thank you for the fighting...
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Scott Kohlhaas
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We can all do our part by supporting and donating to Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement.
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