Tokyo: G7 foreign ministers said that they supported “humanitarian pauses and corridors” in the Hamas-Israel war but refrained from calling for a ceasefire.
The group also said after talks in Japan that their support for Ukraine in its war with Russia “will never waver” while calling on China not to support Moscow in the conflict.
“We stress the need for urgent action to address the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza ... We support humanitarian pauses and corridors to facilitate urgently needed assistance, civilian movement, and the release of hostages,” a joint statement said yesterday.
The ministers also “emphasise Israel’s right to defend itself and its people in accordance with international law as it seeks to prevent a recurrence” of the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct 7.
It added: “We call on Iran to refrain from providing support for Hamas and taking further actions that destabilise the Middle East, including support for Lebanese Hezbollah and other non-state actors, and to use its influence with those groups to de-escalate regional tensions.”
The Israeli military has relentlessly bombarded Gaza since Oct 7, when Hamas launched an attack that left 1,400 dead in Israel, most of them civilians, according to Israeli authorities.
The Hamas-run health ministry says the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 10,300 people.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday there would be no fuel delivered to Gaza and no ceasefire unless more than 240 hostages seized by Hamas were freed.
He also said Israel would assume “overall security” in Gaza after the war ended, while allowing for possible “tactical pauses” before then to free captives and deliver aid to the besieged territory.However, Washington said Tuesday it opposed a new long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel.
On the Ukraine war, the G7 statement said: “Our steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine’s fight for its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity will never waver.”
“We further call on China not to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine, to press Russia to stop its military aggression, and to support a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” it said.
The ministers also said that they “welcome China’s participation in the Ukraine-led peace process”. — AFP
