G7 summit ends with call to protect civilians in conflict zones

The leaders of the G7 nations issued a statement condemning all civilian casualties in the Middle East on Friday, expressing deep concern over the unacceptable number of civilian deaths, particularly among women and children.

The 50th G7 Summit, held in the Italian resort town of Borgo Egnazia, concluded on its second day with the release of a final communiqué.

The summit was attended by the leaders of the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Canada, and Italy, as well as the European Union.

In the communiqué, the G7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to addressing global challenges during a critical period marked by interconnected crises facing the international community.

The statement emphasized the G7’s unequivocal support for Ukraine amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War. “We are determined to continue providing military, budgetary, humanitarian, and reconstruction support to Ukraine. We are firmly committed to helping Ukraine meet its immediate short-term financial needs and supporting its long-term recovery and reconstruction priorities,” the communiqué stated.

Highlighting the extensive damage caused by Russia’s aggression, the leaders noted that according to the World Bank, Ukraine’s damages exceed $486 billion. “We have decided to allocate approximately $50 billion from the extraordinary revenues of frozen Russian assets. This sends a clear message to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. To support Ukraine’s current and future needs, the G7 will launch Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loans for Ukraine, providing $50 billion in additional financial aid by the end of the year,” the communiqué continued.

The leaders condemned Russia’s threats to use nuclear weapons in the conflict. “We strongly condemn Russia’s irresponsible and threatening nuclear rhetoric, including the announcement of deploying nuclear weapons in Belarus. We are determined to hold those responsible for atrocities against the Ukrainian people accountable under international law,” the statement read.

The G7 leaders also called for the unimpeded transport of Ukrainian grain, foodstuffs, and fertilizers through the Black Sea.

Reiterating their support for Israel, the communiqué stated, “While exercising its right to self-defense, Israel must act in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law.”

The leaders condemned all civilian casualties and called for concrete steps to protect civilians, particularly women and children.

The statement also expressed support for the ceasefire proposal in Gaza first announced by U.S. President Joe Biden. The G7 urged Hamas to accept the proposal and called on countries with influence over Hamas to pressure them to agree.

The leaders called for the removal of barriers to humanitarian aid, especially for women and children, and stressed the importance of opening the Ashdod port and Rafah Border Crossing in compliance with international humanitarian law.

They emphasized the need for full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access through all land border crossings, sea distribution routes, and within Gaza.

The communiqué expressed concern over the ongoing ground operations in Rafah and the potential for a full-scale military assault that would have dire consequences for civilians. It called on Israel to avoid such actions.

The G7 leaders welcomed the establishment of the new Palestinian government and pledged continued support. They called for an end to actions undermining the Palestinian Authority, such as Israel’s withholding of Palestinian revenues.

The statement highlighted the importance of economic stability in the West Bank for regional security and called on Israel to provide necessary banking services, facilitate trade, transfer withheld revenues to the Palestinian Authority, and ease measures exacerbating the region’s economic situation.

The communiqué reaffirmed the commitment to a two-state solution and emphasized that recognizing a Palestinian state at an appropriate time is a crucial component of the political process.

The leaders urged all parties to avoid actions that undermine the two-state solution, including Israel’s expansion of illegal Jewish settlements and the legalization of such outposts.

The G7 condemned Iran’s April 13-14 attack on Israel and called for an end to attacks on merchant ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. The leaders urged the Houthis in Yemen to release detained sailors and warned that Houthi attacks in the Red Sea risk destabilizing the region and hindering the UN roadmap for peace in Yemen.

The communiqué reiterated the G7’s commitment to preventing Iran from developing or acquiring nuclear weapons and called on Iran to halt its nuclear activities. The leaders also warned Iran against supporting Russia in the Russia-Ukraine War.

The G7 expressed ongoing concern over security, terrorism, conflict, and displacement in Africa’s Sahel region. The leaders pledged readiness to assist Sahel countries in restoring constitutional order and called for Sudanese actors to engage in national dialogue.

Regarding the Indo-Pacific region, the G7 expressed deep concern over China’s support for Russia and called on China to refrain from export control measures that could disrupt global supply chains. The leaders urged China to act responsibly in cyberspace.

The communiqué condemned the potential transfer of nuclear or ballistic missile technology to North Korea, reaffirming the call for North Korea to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles completely, verifiably, and irreversibly.

The G7 leaders pledged to continue efforts to combat biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change, reaffirming their commitment to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The communiqué emphasized the importance of collective action, particularly from major economies, to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and ensure affordable clean energy for all.

The leaders committed to ending support for new, unabated coal energy projects and accelerating investments in renewable and clean energy sources. They also pledged to develop secure, diverse, and responsible clean energy supply chains.

The communiqué highlighted the G7’s determination to hold malicious cyber actors accountable and counter strategic threats, emphasizing the need for enhanced coordination among G7 institutions.

The leaders committed to promoting responsible state behavior in cyberspace and improving cybersecurity, including deterring and responding to hostile actions.

The G7 leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms and reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism financing, propaganda, and the spread of terrorist content.

The communiqué emphasized a comprehensive, balanced approach to addressing global migration challenges and opportunities, reaffirming the commitment to inclusive solutions in line with international law.

The leaders noted the resilience of the global economy but acknowledged ongoing risks from geopolitical tensions, energy price volatility, and supply chain disruptions. They reaffirmed their existing G7 foreign exchange commitments.

On artificial intelligence, the communiqué stated, “AI can play a significant role in advancing progress and development in our societies. We will promote safe, secure, and trustworthy AI. Consistent with our shared democratic values and respect for human rights, we will pursue an inclusive, human-centered digital transformation that supports economic growth and sustainable development, maximizes benefits, and manages risks.”