G7 Nations Call For Urgent Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Amidst Escalating Conflict

G7 nations called for urgent actions to help civilians trapped in Gaza, facing bombardments, displacement and shortages of food, water, and fuel. They also called for pauses in the conflict to allow the entrance of aid.

According to the Associated Press, after two days of talks in Tokyo, the G7 released a statement urging the need to help Palestinians trapped in Gaza, while also condemning Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7.

The statement said that all parties must allow humanitarian support for civilians, “including food, water, medical care, fuel and shelter, and access for humanitarian workers”. It also supported the need for humanitarian pauses. Israel has opposed prolonged pauses on its attacks.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that “All of us want to end this conflict as soon as possible and meanwhile to minimize civilian suffering,” but he also said that an immediate ceasefire would give Hamas the opportunity to regroup and give them the “capacity and stated intent to repeat October 7th again and again and again.”

Blinken also said that after the war, no Palestinians must be displaced from Gaza, the territory must not be used as a platform for terrorism, that Israel should not occupy Gaza and that no attempt to blockade or besiege Gaza should be made.

Still, there have been some cracks in the G7 position over Gaza. Last month in the UN Security Council, France voted in favor for a ceasefire and a humanitarian truce in the conflict, but the resolution was vetoed by the US. Both Japan and the UK abstained.