Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) countries on Wednesday (8 October) called for an end to the violence in Gaza. At a two-day meeting in Tokyo, the G7 foreign ministers agreed to support efforts to create a "humanitarian pause" and organize corridors to facilitate the delivery of urgent aid, the movement of civilians, and the release of hostages.
They also reaffirmed the importance of the two-state solution as the path to a just, lasting, and secure peace. This solution includes Israel and a Palestinian state living side by side in peace, security, and mutual recognition.
The joint statement also included a call for the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians, including food, water, medical care, fuel, shelter, and access for humanitarian workers.
Before the meeting began on Tuesday (Oct. 7), more than 100 Japanese citizens gathered in downtown Tokyo. They expressed their dissatisfaction with the G7, blaming the bloc for the worsening crisis in Gaza and stressing the need for immediate action to stop Israel's deadly attacks on the territory.
The G7 seems to be struggling to reach a strong and unified agreement on how to deal with this conflict, raising doubts about its ability as a power that can deal with major crises with a unified approach.
Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan, stressed the importance of strengthening G7 solidarity in light of the ongoing situation in Israel and Palestine, problems in Ukraine, and challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
Since October 7, Israeli bombardments have killed more than 10,000 Palestinians, some 40 percent of whom are children, according to health officials in Gaza. The impact has been profound, with nearly two-thirds of Gaza's population of 2.3 million displaced and thousands seeking refuge in hospitals and temporary shelters such as parking lots.
Hospitals across the Gaza Strip have been targeted, and many are struggling to stay open due to shortages of fuel and medical equipment.
The UN has warned that health services, sanitation, water and food supplies in Gaza have reached an alarming tipping point. According to the UN, food and water shortages in the North have forced thousands of Palestinians to flee to the South by walking across the Gaza Strip.
