Arab News Japan

TOKYO: At the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Munich, Germany, on Saturday, the closing statement issued by the Chair of the meeting once again condemned Hamas but remained largely silent on Israel’s attacks on Gaza’s civilian infrastructure and its genocide against the Palestinians.

According to Japan’s Foreign Ministry, the G7 members condemned the “terrorist” attacks by Hamas and “other terrorist groups” and said securing humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip was an “absolute priority.”

Despite opposition by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the G7 ministers said they remain committed to a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel. They also said they were working on durable “pauses in the hostilities that could lead to a sustainable ceasefire.”

Diplomatic sources in Tokyo said the G7 statement seemed an abstract production that is trying to show Israel as a victim of Hamas and mentioned nothing about the Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territories and the campaign by the Israeli military occupation to drive the Gazans out of their land and into Egypt.

The G7 meeting was attended by most of the Foreign Ministers of the G7 countries, although Japan’s Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko did not attend. She was replaced by Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs FUNAKOSHI Takehiro.

In the latter half of the meeting, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba joined the discussions, expressing his gratitude for the support provided by the G7 members to date and expectations for future support.

The G7 members reaffirmed their “unwavering resolve” to continue to support Ukraine and that they will support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, including through the Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction.