G7 urges ‘humanitarian pauses’ in Israel-Gaza war, refrains from calling for ceasefire

G7 foreign ministers also ‘call on Iran to refrain from providing support for Hamas’ so as to avoid further destabilising the Middle East

The group says its support for Ukraine in its war with Russia ‘will never waver’ and calls on China not to assist Moscow

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Mourners pray next to the bodies of Palestinians from a family who were killed by Israel strikes at a hospital in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 5:58pm, 8 Nov 2023

G7 foreign ministers said on Wednesday that they supported “humanitarian pauses and corridors” in the Israel-Gaza 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.

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 October 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.”

It was only the second joint statement from the G7 since gunmen from the Palestinian militant group Hamas sparked the conflict in southern Israel, killing 1,400 people and taking some 240 hostages.