Son of 1972 Lod Airport Attack Victim Reflects on Death of Japanese Terrorist Kozo Okamoto

Kozo Okamoto, the Japanese terrorist responsible for the deadly 1972 Lod Airport massacre in Israel, has died at age 78 in Beirut. Okamoto was a member of the Japanese Red Army and part of the group that killed 24 people, including Professor Aharon Katzir, and injured 71 others during the attack at what is now Ben Gurion Airport. Okamoto was captured, wounded, and imprisoned but was released in 1985 as part of the Jibril prisoner exchange and subsequently lived in Lebanon.

Professor Aharon Katzir's son, Abraham Katzir, recalled the traumatic day when he and his mother went to pick up his father from a flight. He described the sudden gunfire, shattered glass, and his efforts to protect his mother. Abraham said he never harbored hatred toward Okamoto, viewing him as a fanatic, and noted that the Japanese ambassador had apologized for the attack. He expressed relief that Okamoto is no longer alive but no desire for revenge.

Another survivor, Eti Ringel, who was four years old at the time and lost her mother in the attack, shared her lasting trauma. She described the chaos, blood, and fear she experienced and how the news of Okamoto’s death brought mixed emotions. Ringel recalled the shock when Okamoto was freed in 1985 and said his death brings a sense of closure to a horrific chapter that destroyed many lives.

The 1972 attack remains one of the most brutal terrorist incidents in Israel’s history, with Okamoto as the sole surviving attacker until his recent death. Survivors and victims’ families continue to remember the tragedy and its profound impact on their lives.