At G7 Foreign Ministers meet, Blinken says Israel shouldn't 'reoccupy' Gaza after war with Hamas ends

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Wednesday called on Israel not to reoccupy Gaza after the war with Hamas ends. After G7 foreign ministers talks, Blinken spoke with reporters and listed what he said were “key elements” in order to create “durable peace and security.” “The United States believes key elements should include: no forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, not now, not after the war; No use of Gaza as a platform for terrorism or other violent attacks; No reoccupation of Gaza after the conflict ends,” Blinken told reporters. Blinken further said other conditions included no “attempt to blockade or besiege Gaza” or any “reduction in the territory of Gaza.” Also, after the extensive meeting in Tokyo, top diplomats from the Group of Seven leading industrial democracies announced a unified stance on the Israel-Hamas war, condemning Hamas, supporting Israel’s right to self-defence as well as calling for “humanitarian pauses” to speed aid to Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. Blinken and foreign ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Italy “emphasise Israel’s right to defend itself and its people in accordance with international law as it seeks to prevent a recurrence” of the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7. The G7 members also expressed support for “humanitarian pauses to facilitate urgently needed assistance, civilian movement and release of hostages.” The statement calls on Iran “to refrain from providing support for Hamas and taking further actions that destabilise the Middle East, including support for Lebanese Hezbollah and other non-state actors, and to use its influence with those groups to de-escalate regional tensions.” During the meeting, the G7 members also condemned “the rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians,” which the ministers say is “unacceptable, undermines security in the West Bank, and threatens prospects for a lasting peace.” With inputs from agencies