TOKYO: G7 foreign ministers said Wednesday that they supported “humanitarian pauses and corridors” in Gaza 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 “emphasize (the Zionist entity’s) right to defend itself and its people in accordance with international law as it seeks to prevent a recurrence” of the Oct 7 Hamas attacks. 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.”

Ukraine fatigue

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 from the G7 — the United States, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Britain and Canada — also said they “welcome China’s participation in the Ukraine-led peace process”. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed what he called a “strong statement” by the group and for its “unwavering support”, after his Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had joined the meeting by video conference.

With Ukraine’s counteroffensive struggling to gain ground after almost two years of war, Zelensky has regularly met Western leaders to try to stave off fatigue over the conflict. “It is clear, particularly at this moment, that around the world some (parties) are watching very closely how we will continue to support Ukraine,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said earlier.

Her French counterpart Catherine Colonna said it was “important to remember that the situation in the Middle East in no way distracts us from what is happening in Ukraine”. — AFP