Photo/Illutration From left to right, British Foreign Minister James Cleverly, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, front, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, front, and French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna pose for a photo at the beginning of session 1 of the G-7 Foreign Ministers' meeting at the Foreign Ministry's Iikura guesthouse in Tokyo on Nov. 8. (Pool Photo via AP)

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening by the day, as Israel continues its fierce attacks on the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave.

There is no time to waste in tackling the urgent situation, which demands not merely words but decisive action to avert a humanitarian catastrophe from the Group of Seven, an intergovernmental forum composed of leading industrial democracies bound by the shared values of freedom and human rights.

In a two-day meeting in Tokyo chaired by Japan, the G-7 foreign ministers issued a joint statement supporting "humanitarian pauses" in the fighting between Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist organization and militant group, and the establishment of "humanitarian corridors" for helping civilians in the blockaded territory.

There are subtle differences among the G-7 countries in their stances toward the military conflict between Israel and Hamas, which reflect their distinct historical contexts and domestic situations.

When the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution last month calling for a "humanitarian truce" in the conflict, the responses from the G-7 members were divided three ways: the United States voted against the resolution, while France supported it, with Japan, Britain, Germany, Canada and Italy abstaining.

This time, the seven major powers reached consensus by framing the agreement in terms of a “pause,” which indicates a shorter suspension of military operations than a cease-fire or truce, while condemning Hamas's terrorist attacks, affirming Israel's right to defend itself, and calling for the immediate release of all hostages.

The wording suggests that the G-7 nations adopted a nuanced and plausible approach to realizing a halt to the bloodshed to show solidarity and seek a practical path to alleviate Gaza's dire humanitarian situation as quickly as possible instead of insisting on a full cease-fire or truce, which Israel would unequivocally reject.

However, there is a growing chorus of calls for a cease-fire among not only Arab nations but also many other Global South developing and emerging countries, including those in Africa and South America.

Demonstrations supporting the Palestinian cause are also spreading within the G-7 nations. It is hard to claim that the foreign ministers' statement fully captured these internal and external voices so that it can help unify the international community on the issue.

U.S. President Joe Biden has reportedly requested a three-day pause in the fighting during a recent phone consultation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The G-7 countries, led by the United States, must intensify their diplomatic efforts to stop civilian casualties, utilizing all available channels to influence Israel's behavior.

Japan, which maintains favorable ties with both Israel and Arab countries, should make stronger and more effective diplomatic efforts for the purpose by leveraging its unique position.

While what is unfolding in the Middle East is attracting the international spotlight, there are concerns that global attention to the war in Ukraine may wane. The foreign ministers' statement, however, declared that the G-7’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s aggression “will never waver.”

If it fails to put a stop to Israel's military actions that are causing massive civilian casualties while condemning Russia’s inhumane acts, however, the G-7 risks being accused of a double standard and further widening divisions in the international community.

The G-7 is facing a tough, high-stakes test of its commitment to protecting innocent civilian lives.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 10