G7 demands the release of captives and humanitarian pauses in Gaza

The foreign ministers of the G7 urged a return to a more comprehensive peace process and called for humanitarian pauses in the Israel-Hamas conflict to facilitate the entry of aid and aid in the release of hostages on Wednesday.

The Group of Seven wealthy nations said in a single statement that Israel had the right to defend itself, capping a two-day meeting in Tokyo while Israeli forces continued to pound the Gaza Strip. However, they also emphasized how important it is to uphold international humanitarian law and safeguard civilians.

“In line with the internationally agreed parameters,” the G7 members pledged to work for long-term solutions for Gaza and a return to a more comprehensive peace process in the Israel-Palestine issue.

That “a two-state solution… remains the only path to a just, lasting, and secure peace” was a belief that the ministers agreed upon.

Since militants from the Palestinian organization Hamas launched an onslaught on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,400 people and kidnapping over 240 more, the G7 had only issued two united statements.

Health officials in the Hamas-ruled region have reported that since then, over 10,000 Palestinians have died as a result of Israeli bombardment of Gaza, with over 40% of those dead being minors.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa told reporters, “I think it’s important that the G7 was able to put out its first unified message as a statement regarding a humanitarian pause… in terms of the responsibility the G7 has towards the international community.”

When asked if the G7 as a whole supported a complete ceasefire or just humanitarian pauses, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated that the statement accurately reflected the discussions and that there was “real unity” among the group.

The communiqué also denounced North Korea’s missile launches and arms sales to Russia, emphasized the need for open communication with China, and restated the G7’s support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States make up the G7, and the European Union is also involved in the negotiations.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, has rejected requests for a truce that he claims would give Hamas time to regroup but has stated that Israel would consider “tactical little pauses”.

There had been doubts about the G7’s ability to effectively address significant crises as they didn’t seem to be able to come to a consensus on a solid, unified approach to the conflict.

The ministers also talked on how to revive Middle East peace initiatives and what will happen when the Gaza fighting finishes on Tuesday.

Israel’s long-term intentions for Gaza have remained ambiguous. This week, Netanyahu made some of the first candid remarks on the matter when he declared that Israel will aim to secure security for Gaza “for an indefinite period of time.”

However, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen stated to the Wall Street Journal that Israel preferred the region to be governed by Gaza political leaders or placed under the control of an international coalition that included the US, the EU, and nations with a majority of Muslims.

After the G7 talks, Blinken told reporters that neither Israel nor Hamas could rule Gaza.

“Now, the truth is that after the fight is over, there might need to be a transitional period… We don’t see a reoccupation, and from what I’ve heard, Israeli officials don’t intend to retake Gaza,” the man stated.

Blinken added that in order for there to be a lasting peace, there cannot be a reduction in the area of the enclave or the forceful eviction of Palestinians from Gaza. Instead, the West Bank and Gaza must be united under the control of the Palestinian Authority.

“We believe that the time is now to start the conversation about the future,” he stated.