The G7 group of major industrial countries have backed a US call for "humanitarian pauses" in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, foreign ministers said on Wednesday.
"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," ministers said in a joint statement following talks in Japan.
The group also said it recognized Israel's right to defend itself "in accordance with international law."
The G7 ministers called on Iran to "refrain from supporting" the Islamist militant group Hamas, which launched attacks on Israel on October 7, killing over 1,400 people. Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by several G7 countries, as well as by Israel and a number of other states.
Following the talks, officials stressed the bloc's "unity" in the face of geopolitical challenges.
"This is a very important moment as well for the G7 to come together in the face of this crisis and to speak, as we do, with one clear voice," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
The office of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said: "The unity of G7 is needed more than ever with the situation in Israel and Palestine, the situation in Ukraine, and the challenges in the Indo-Pacific region."
