Gaza Conflict: Israel-Hamas war puts G7's political relevance at stake

Due to what appears to be a disagreement among its members over how to take a firm and coordinated stance against Israel’s war in Gaza, the wealthy democratic Group of Seven (G7) bloc runs the risk of losing its influence as a force to address significant geopolitical issues. This week, foreign ministers from the United States, the European Union, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom will gather in Tokyo to discuss the conflict, which has alarmed a number of superpowers that it could spread throughout the Middle East. Analysts predict that if ministers release a communiqué following the meeting, it will probably discuss the conflict in general terms, highlighting the various concerns as well as the varying political and economic allegiances within the group. The fact that Japan, the group’s current chair, has chosen to handle the crisis cautiously and has resisted pressure to align itself with its closest ally, the United States, which is pro-Israel, is said to have complicated matters, according to analysts and officials. Speaking anonymously, officials from France and Canada added that it has been difficult to come to a consensus due to the strong support the United States has shown for Israel and worries about a potential backlash from the Arab or Jewish populations in the G7. Japan has aimed for a “balanced” response since the start of the conflict, partly because of its varied diplomatic interests in the area and its reliance on the Middle East for oil. Two people familiar with the situation, however, claim that Israeli diplomats have actively lobbied Japan through phone conversations, emails, and visits to Japanese officials. Analysts say Japan’s cautious approach has been reinforced by the increasing number of casualties in Gaza. Since Israel started bombarding the Palestinian enclave in retaliation for attacks by the militant group Hamas on October 7, nearly 10,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have died, according to health officials in the area. The G7 was first formed 50 years ago to address issues related to the world economy, but its purpose has since expanded to include representing the combined voice of the major industrialised nations on matters of politics and security. Although the group has demonstrated solidarity in denouncing China’s alleged “economic coercion” and sanctioning Russia for its actions in the Ukraine, they have not unified on the Israel-Gaza conflict. The G7 has only released a single, brief joint statement on the fighting since the war broke out. Joint statements have been released by other group members. G7 differences were also visible at the UN, where France supported a resolution on October 24th asking for a humanitarian ceasefire in the fighting. (With agency inputs)