G7 throws weight behind Israel, plans strategic response to Iran

G7 leaders condemned Iran’s attack against Israel and reaffirmed the Group of Seven’s commitment to Israel’s security during a meeting on Sunday regarding the development.

In a statement following a video meeting, the leaders of the Group of Seven powers said they “unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel”.

“We express our full solidarity and support to Israel and its people and reaffirm our commitment towards its security,” they said, in the statement published by the Italian G7 presidency.

“With its actions, Iran has further stepped toward the destabilisation of the region and risks provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation. This must be avoided.

“We will continue to work to stabilise the situation and avoid further escalation.

“In this spirit, we demand that Iran and its proxies cease their attacks, and we stand ready to take further measures now and in response to further destabilising initiatives.”

Iran carried out the strike—its first to specifically target Israeli territory—as payback for a fatal airstrike that was widely attributed to Israel and damaged the Iranian consulate in the capital of Syria earlier this month.

The attack came as the Israel-Hamas war raged in besieged Gaza.

“We will also strengthen our cooperation to end the crisis in Gaza, including by continuing to work towards an immediate and sustainable ceasefire and the release of hostages by Hamas, and deliver increased humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in need,” they said.

The G7, which consists of the US, Japan, Germany, France, UK, Italy, and Canada, also declared on Sunday that they would intensify their efforts to resolve the situation.

According to an AFP count based on Israeli numbers, 1,170 persons were killed in the Islamist group’s historic attack against Israel on October 7, which marked the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The majority of the casualties were civilians.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,729 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.