Japanese Militant Behind 1972 Airport Attack Dies | France News

France News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 2, 2026 · 2m

Kozo Okamoto, the Japanese militant behind a 1972 Tel Aviv airport massacre that killed 26, has died at 78 in Beirut. Once known as “Ahmad the Japanese” by the PFLP, he was wounded in the attack, later jailed by Israel, then freed in 1985 — only to find sanctuary in Lebanon, where he lived quietly until his death. Though Japan disputed his asylum, Arab nations hailed him as a martyr for Palestine, even as he once called himself an “Arab resistance fighter.” His legacy remains polarizing: a terrorist to some, a revolutionary hero to others. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow…