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Japanese Militant Kozo Okamoto, Involved in 1972 Tel Aviv Airport Attack, Dies in Beirut

Kozo Okamoto, the Japanese militant who participated in the deadly 1972 attack on Tel Aviv's airport, passed away in Beirut at 78.

Editorial Desk

July 24, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Beirut, Lebanon — Kozo Okamoto, the Japanese militant involved in the 1972 deadly attack on Tel Aviv’s airport, died on Thursday in Beirut. He was 78.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a faction that’s the second-largest group in the Palestine Liberation Organization, confirmed his death. The group stated that Okamoto had been ill for an extended period.

Okamoto, who had made rare public appearances since settling in Lebanon after his release from Israeli custody, was a member of the Japanese Red Army. He participated in the attack on Lod Airport (now Ben Gurion Airport) on May 30, 1972, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people and injured over 80.

The PFLP had been providing protection to Okamoto in Lebanon. His involvement in the attack made him a significant figure in the history of international terrorism.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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