ISIL Threats:Two Japanese hostages threatened to pay $200m in 72 hours

The Islamic state has released a video online showing two Japanese nationals being threatened to pay $200 million ramson or be killed in 72 hours on Tuesday.The video showed a man dressed in black attire covering his face standing in between two Japanese hostages named Kenji Goto Jogo and Haruna Yukawa.

Shortly after the video was released, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to save the hostages. "Their lives are the top priority," he said, speaking in Jerusalem during a six-day visit to the Middle East. "It is unforgivable. Extremism and Islam are completely different things."


The video has been identified as being made by the Islamic State group's al-Furqan media arm and was posted on militant websites associated with the extremist group.

The militant, who demands $100 million for each hostage, says the Japanese government has made the "foolish" decision to provide $200 million to fight the Islamic State, likely referring to money Abe pledged to help Iraq's government and aid Syrian refugees.

"To the prime minister of Japan: Although you are more than 8,000 and 500 kilometers (5,280 miles) from the Islamic State, you willingly have volunteered to take part in this crusade," the militant says. "You have proudly donated $100 million to kill our women and children, to destroy the homes of the Muslims … and in an attempt to stop the expansion of the Islamic State, you have also donated another $100 million to train the (apostates)."
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the tomb

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the tomb of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat upon his arrival to the West Bank city of Ramallah on Jan. 20. (Photo: Mohamad Torokman, Pool, European Pressphoto Agency)

The militant says the Japanese public has 72 hours to pressure the government to pay the $200 million to save the hostages' lives. Abe and other Japanese officials declined to say whether they would make the payment.

Yasuhide Nakayama, a deputy foreign minister, will travel to Jordan to seek the country's support and to resolve the hostage crisis, Abe said.Japanese officials will analyze the video to verify its authenticity.

"If true, the act of threat in exchange of people's lives is unforgivable and we feel strong indignation," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said in Tokyo. "We will make our utmost effort to win their release as soon as possible."