G7 foreign ministers express 'deep concern' over possible Israeli attack on Rafah

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – Foreign ministers of the G7 expressed on Saturday deep concern over a possible Israeli military action in Rafah, according to an official statement.

"They called for urgent action to address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, particularly the plight of 1.5 million civilians sheltering in Rafah and they expressed deep concern for the potentially devastating consequences on the civilian population of Israel’s further full scale military operation in that area," the Italian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, following the first meeting held at the Munich Security Conference in Germany.

Italy is presiding the top-level conference where debates are held on pressing security issues.

The foreign ministers stressed the need for "full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access in all its forms to the Gaza Strip," the statement read.

They were also "concerned by the risk of forcible displacement of Palestinian civilians out of Gaza," the statement added.

- War in Ukraine

The G7 ministers also reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine, and noted that "Russia will have to pay for the damage and devastation it is causing to Ukraine and its people."

The G7 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US. The EU is also represented.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 Hamas attack. The ensuing Israeli attack has killed at least 28,858, injured more than 68,677 others, and caused mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

Nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.

Some 1.5 million Palestinians previously displaced by Israel's offensive on Gaza are holed up in Rafah.