The G7 group of developed countries on Tuesday declared that it has decided to throw its weight behind a Gaza peace deal endorsed by US President Joe Biden, even as they went on to call on Hamas to accept it.
“We, the Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), fully endorse” the truce plan “that would lead to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, a significant and sustained increase in humanitarian assistance for distribution throughout Gaza, and an enduring end to the crisis, with Israel’s security interests and Gazan civilian safety assured,” read the statement.
“We call on Hamas to accept this deal, that Israel is ready to move forward with, and we urge countries with influence over Hamas to help ensure that it does so,” it continued.
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The three-phase proposal — which Biden presented Friday as an Israeli initiative — is intended to end the conflict, free all hostages and lead to the reconstruction of the Palestinian territory without Hamas in power.
It begins with a six-week complete ceasefire that would see Israeli forces withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza.
The G7 countries are the United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Israel unleashed a barrage of airstrikes on Gaza on Thursday, even as it signaled a willingness to revive long-stalled negotiations with Hamas on a ceasefire and prisoner swap, aimed at halting the brutal conflict that has ravaged the region since October 7.
Gaza City was rocked by twin airstrikes in the pre-dawn hours, leaving 26 people dead, including 15 children, according to the Gaza Strip’s civil defence agency, which painted a grim picture of the attack’s aftermath.
Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for the agency, revealed that a deadly airstrike targeted a residential building in Al-Daraj, killing 16 family members, and another strike hit a mosque complex, claiming 10 additional lives in the tragic incident.