Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is calling a threat made by the Islamic State group to kill two Japanese hostages "an unforgivable terrorist act" and has pledged to free the men.
A video released Tuesday purported to show an IS figure demanding a 200-million-US-dollar ransom for the hostages, a freelance journalist and a private security company head, or they will be executed within 72 hours.
It came as Abe was wrapping up a six-day tour of the Middle East.
At a joint news conference after talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Abe says he has asked for help from the Palestinian leader.
"President Mahmoud Abbas mentioned that this terrorist act is unforgivable and will challenge any terrorists. He expressed his hope that this case will be resolved as soon as possible and the two Japanese citizens will be released. He also mentioned that he is willing to provide further help and is ready to work closely with Japan to resolve the case."
The IS figure in the video appeared to link the ransom to a pledge Abe made Saturday of nonmilitary aid to help the Iraqi government and to assist Syrian refugees who have fled the Islamic State's brutality.
Abe and other Japanese officials have declined to say whether they would pay a ransom, though the prime minister has dispatched a deputy foreign minister to Jordan to seek the country's support in resolving the hostage crisis.
A Japanese government spokesman says Abe has cancelled other events on his schedule in the Middle East.
He is due to return to Japan later on today.
