The G7 foreign ministers They started a meeting this Tuesday in Tokyo from which one could emerge joint petition to implement a humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip and where they seek to reaffirm their support for Ukraine versus Russiaaccording to the Japanese presidency on duty.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza and the Russian invasion of Ukraine mark the meeting of foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7, made up of Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union) that It is celebrated between this Tuesday and Wednesday in Tokyo.
“At a time when tensions are rising in the Middle East, we want to show our unity and reaffirm our commitment to continue implementing strict sanctions against Russia and offering strong assistance to Ukraine“said the Japanese Foreign Minister today at a press conference, Yoko Kamikawawho will chair the meeting.
Humanitarian crisis and respect for international law
Kamikawa, who was on tour last weekend in Israel, Palestine and other Middle Eastern countries, stated that the priority for the Japanese presidency is “the improvement of the humanitarian situation” in Gaza.
“It especially pains us that among those damaged (by the conflict) there are children, women and the elderly. That is why we are making diplomatic efforts to ensure that there is a humanitarian pause that allows the arrival of aid to the civilian population in the area,” said the Japanese Foreign Minister.
Although he avoided “doing a legal analysis” of Israel’s military actions, Kamikawa affirmed the need to “respect international humanitarian law” in general and noted that “in no case can it be justified that the conflict affects innocent civilians.”
The Japanese presidency of the G7 hopes that the meeting will result in a joint declaration to collect these points, a task complicated by the different sensitivities in this regard among its members when referring to issues such as the Israeli right to defend itself or the deaths in Gaza.
The war between Israel and the Hamas terrorists, which has been going on for a month now, has left more than 11,000 dead, 241 captives in the Strip and hundreds of Israeli soldiers inside the enclave.
Japan, which maintains traditionally friendly relations with both Arab countries in the Middle East and Israel, has avoided clearly supporting the Israeli war offensive, as has the United States, Tokyo’s main security ally.
The differences between the G7 countries were reflected in the vote on a resolution that called for “the cessation of hostilities” in Gaza in the United Nations General Assembly at the end of last month, a motion approved by a majority in that body despite the rejection of United States and the abstention of the majority of the other members of the Group of Seven (only France voted in favor).
Maintenance and extension of sanctions against Russia
Regarding the war in Ukraine, the foreign ministers aspire to re-enforce the commitment reached at the G7 leaders’ summit last May in Hiroshima, where it was promised assistance to Ukraine “for as long as necessary” and “by all possible means”.
The G7 thus seeks to respond to the stagnation of the conflict and Moscow’s apparent plans to extend it as long as possible while waiting for the common front that pressures Russia and supports Kiev to begin to falter.
At the meeting, new ways to sanction Russia could be discussed, such as greater restrictions on its diamond exports, a proposal that the European Union (EU) is considering including in its next round of punitive measures.
The discussion sessions focused on the war in Ukraine will also have the participation of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmitro Kulebasaid the Japanese foreign minister.
Likewise, the foreign ministers will discuss the increase in instability in the Asia-Pacific region due to China’s military rise, tensions around Taiwan and North Korea’s weapons developments, together with the strengthening of its ties with Moscow and Iran.
(With information from EFE)
Source-www.infobae.com