G7, however, urged a ceasefire in Gaza Strip, Palestine, and called for humanitarian access to affected areas.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7 nations), have thrown their weight behind Israel amid ongoing hostilities between the country and Iran.
They made their position known in a joint statement issued late Monday from the G7 summit in Canada.
The countries which comprise Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself and labelled Iran as the “principal source” of instability in the Middle East.
Leaders of the countries also condemned Iran’s actions and reiterated concerns over its nuclear ambitions.
ALSO READ: Killing Iran’s Supreme Leader to end conflict not ruled out, Netanyahu suggests
“Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror. We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” the statement read.
While expressing support for Israel, the G7 stressed the need to protect civilians and called for an urgent de-escalation of hostilities across the region.
The communiqué, however, urged a ceasefire in Gaza Strip, Palestine and called for humanitarian access to affected areas.
The G7 statement represents a unified Western stance amid fears of a broader regional war following Israel’s military strikes in Iran and retaliatory actions that have killed dozens in both countries.
