G7 backs 'humanitarian pauses', rejects ceasefire in Gaza

AFP , Wednesday 8 Nov 2023

G7 foreign ministers said Wednesday that they supported "humanitarian pauses and corridors" in the Israeli war on Gaza but refrained from calling for a ceasefire.

G7 foreign ministers
G7 foreign ministers are seeking to hammer out a common line on the Israeli war on Gaza during talks in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023. AFP

 

"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 captives," a joint statement said.

The ministers also "emphasize Israel's right to defend itself and its people in accordance with international law."

It added: "We call on Iran to refrain from providing support for Hamas and taking further actions that destabilize 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."

'Overall security' 
 

The Israeli military has relentlessly bombarded Gaza and is scaling up ground operations since Al-Aqsa Flood operation on October 7, killing at least 10,328 Palestinians, including 4,237 children, more than 2600 woman, 600 ederly and wounded around 25,965, according to the Palestanian health ministry.

The ministry added that over 2,000 civilians remain unaccounted for and are believed to be dead under the rubble that has become the main feature of Gaza’s horizon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday there would be no fuel delivered to Gaza and no ceasefire unless more than 240 captives took 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.

* This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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