Japan is welcoming top diplomats from G-7 member nations for a crucial two-day summit commencing this Tuesday. This meeting is particularly noteworthy as it coincides with the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
The summit, hosted at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo, will see the participation of top diplomats from Japan, the current G-7 chair, along with representatives from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the US, UK, and the EU. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is anticipated to be a major point of discussion during the various sessions scheduled over the two days.
This summit marks the first in-person meeting of the G-7 top diplomats since the Israeli war on Gaza, which started on October 7. Japan, while announcing a substantial aid of $65 million for Palestinians in Gaza, has echoed the US’s stance on Hamas, condemning its actions.
However, Tokyo is likely to emphasize its call for a humanitarian pause, given the dire crisis in the Gaza Strip due to the lack of essentials such as drinking water, medical aid, and food.
The G-7 meeting follows the vetoing of four different draft resolutions concerning Gaza in the UN Security Council since last month. Israel initiated air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip in response to a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7.
The conflict has resulted in significant casualties. Over 10,000 Palestinians, including more than 4,000 children and 2,600 women, have lost their lives due to Israeli bombardments in the Gaza Strip. In the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, Israeli forces and Jewish settlers have claimed the lives of 163 Palestinians since the war’s onset. The Israeli death toll stands at nearly 1,600, as per official figures.
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