# Kozo Okamoto, Japanese militant who took part in a 1972 Tel Aviv airport attack, dies in Beirut

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-24 09:29 UTC · Category: World · Sources: 8 · Current Velocity: 6.36

## Executive Summary
Kozo Okamoto, the last surviving participant of the 1972 Lod Airport massacre, has died in Lebanon at age 78.

## Intelligence Brief
Kozo Okamoto, a member of the Japanese Red Army involved in the 1972 attack at Lod Airport in Israel, has died in Beirut. Coverage confirms his age as 78 at the time of his passing.


Reports from outlets including The New York Times, AP News, The Japan Times, Haaretz, and The Times of Israel focus on his role in the 1972 incident. Ynetnews and Israel National News highlight the historical impact of the attack, incorporating perspectives from survivors.


Coverage does not yet specify details regarding funeral arrangements or the disposition of his remains. Future reporting is expected to address any official statements from relevant government entities.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### Who was Kozo Okamoto?
He was a Japanese militant and member of the Japanese Red Army who participated in the 1972 airport attack in Israel.

### Where did he die?
He died in Beirut, Lebanon.

### What was the 1972 airport attack?
It was a mass shooting at Lod Airport, now known as Ben-Gurion Airport, which resulted in 24 deaths.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Japanese, Lebanon, Beirut, Kozo Okamoto Japanese, Tel Aviv, Japanese Ben-Gurion, Kozo Okamoto Japanese Terrorist Who Killed, Airport Attack, Israel Dies, Japanese Red Army

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| The New York Times | Japanese Militant in Tel Aviv Airport Attack Dies in Lebanon at 78 | 2026-07-24 00:42 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxQNUFwS2hZajU1djNHOUZVSXVwdFg4ZmRYV2hZalMzMVBqSU1XZU5wNFZ2eEowNGg1aVowenZUTnRTckd6LXNhdXprc0F1UU80bEhia2J0bUVZa2lBX2Fva1V4bGVjbVptWmpaNHEtRWN6ajhQd2xwSkNNaGtuWkIyVVhJb3NsTlFwREVmekZTTzk5LUYzMGc?oc=5) |
| thenationalnews.com | Japanese militant Kozo Okamoto who took part in 1972 Tel Aviv attack dies in Lebanon | 2026-07-24 00:42 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1AFBVV95cUxORkFGTGNoY0VJV09GejJQNXFzTWxPY25HWHdxWDlzODc5SnI2bXBUeU1KMUFjVHpidmVPVXJMaFZHcmltMVRLR2tiUUZjV0psWUdyYjhjM2FBNmF6RnNPTlhiM0ZjWEZtTFVnVkl4Y2RJb1A5UU01dEdMVERyZm9NRFp5Q0VKeHBrc0s1ZWpVSk8xak9YQmxtNm5fQ3JyY29IUjl1Qzk5NURSTjJqWEJ1OEFvVEt0cHlSaWZ0QTJtMjNiVDF2dmhSV2YxOUJ2T3VBeVh5Ng?oc=5) |
| The Japan Times | Kozo Okamoto, last surviving participant of 1972 Lod Airport massacre, dies | 2026-07-24 00:42 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxQYnFYOFRtdEtqcXEwTzlZbGpxdFdvSGVQV21sY3c5M1hhYjVvbWdyQWpSQV9rcTlYbFZLSV9UWWxEb1lDQ2R1c3lQZUZrb3FKUWRtMkllMHNwTVNlRFRsbDV6T09yUW9PTnZVcnpKeW41Rm9fWkFDd196SnhSZXJfOEF0ZGRUcXBObkItcnV0bWRtRTFHQU13?oc=5) |
| Israel National News | Japanese Ben-Gurion airport terrorist dies in Beirut | 2026-07-24 00:42 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiWkFVX3lxTE1GMFZqQURvVDBFN0NtSGlWV2xZaWFxNFNMbDR5ZWM5UU81ZndoOU5sbmtmZGMxVnJ2MzVVTFlSM3diNnUzYm85ajF2ZmF2cU04Z0tGdHFpSlFlQQ?oc=5) |
| Haaretz | Kozo Okamoto, Japanese Terrorist Who Killed 24 in 1972 Airport Attack in Israel, Dies at 78 | 2026-07-24 00:42 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimgJBVV95cUxOc3ZQTTgyTmZlNDhabS1MMDRiMjF1enZ6b2hUZmYyanJxZHRYMDBSWFQ2aDZ2TGRDQWhYcDBpZzUtSFcxNkRaRVJ3VTZYcmtCY2oxV1Q0eDdWMnBHeF90Y0tQV3o4RlBBc01JaXI3dnQ3RFhSNTlHVlEzSFo0Q2dvUlhqUy1rbmxoRnkteFpfNXlTVVRfTGRwUmtMekFRODFzbDRhd2RaMHVLY0pvakJJMEVGOTc1d0NZa2k5NHgydkVJMjMxVWtjUE9EUjlHYVdxcUNFNFBQUGI4U2wzT1Q2dnBXbGZLdE1FMlFhczZsWHY2R1JVMXM0LTNvWi1vZms5TWVEanVwU3ptcXpQSXk2OTA4eXBZano1OFE?oc=5) |
| The Times of Israel | Japanese Red Army terrorist behind deadly 1972 attack on Israeli airport dies at 78 | 2026-07-24 00:42 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxOX21kMW44R2pyaVJRRzB6ZF82bDFhNHNBVnJPbjZ1cGdPQTIyRmR1VFM5TzRuM2hPY2RJY0czMVNDQnJHQnZMOHdDVHh0emhXbnJjLXNVOWxHMjQwVy05b2RTVThfRXBrNnFkU1V5cGw0dkV4Z0VRQV9pazN3dkEydk5Id2V6b3cxeEtORTBKQU1tNV9EbEJyZ1p1ZEZhWXNtZ2hRNUg5aW9aWS1qb3BwT0kySEbSAboBQVVfeXFMTTU0NDdud2V3MUh3M0tjaEZzNExFLXZ1endSOXBZb1ZVUVgwRW52ckxYcW9ONjRGNHQ2WHRLaVBrRlNyRWN6SHRrbTJ1MTVsWDJmblFtc2t3RTgyaUNibU1wc0FJdnNZOWNCT0dGRWFaNEhTZXdWQ0I3ME9TNGxqeUVMSFZRTW9QdDU3aVlfTjFEQndpc0NfTExvVzc1WnJ) |
| Ynetnews | ‘I was covered in blood, and my mother died’: Survivors recall Kozo Okamoto’s massacre | 2026-07-24 00:42 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiVkFVX3lxTE02clJHUmxRWFhKM181VkhjVUxuMGd4Y2JZcTZjZ3lfOGNKbVFJNzJ2MWNMcEo4Vkc2VVRVQ0k2V1FPVU13V1VHeHNYQVhLU0JxUTI2TzJR?oc=5) |
| AP News | Kozo Okamoto, Japanese militant who took part in a 1972 Tel Aviv airport attack, dies in Beirut | 2026-07-24 00:42 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivgFBVV95cUxOaWFCckI5SE16bmZqUGl0T0VEYjdLRGZyblB2emZTTVpRa3NYX1pBcFVEMWZOS19PQlZfUUFNOEhOLWNlOU9fV1JPSTZ4ZWxwazFCdUxucnRTYTZVLXpmbGZTNmxaclJfS2VfUWJJNnZsZ1ljaVpOanFFOWdweG9BMjZPTUU1VlI5YVJSZ19LdXA5bks0ZzhUY29rZ0JVVXBrSlZYREFiZmotaGhMNk9lZHRzYTNuQ2dtQl9wOXhn?oc=5) |
| Ynetnews | Kozo Okamoto, Japanese terrorist behind 1972 Ben Gurion Airport massacre, dies in Beirut | 2026-07-23 15:35 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiVkFVX3lxTE8yYXVncXFwQUh2eXZNN1Awam4yWFFKMS0yRk44NVNjbjd0OTRJS1dCVFZSQkZGQTF3UlNFTS15clJDbEhod1l4Qy1xdjJSRktOZWRqM0xn?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://www.newsylist.com/trend/2026-07-24/kozo-okamoto-japanese-militant-who-took-part-in-a-1972-tel-aviv-airport-attack*
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