Foreign ministers from the G7 democracies have upped the pressure on Israel to accept a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying “now is the time to conclude a diplomatic settlement,” Reuters reports.

In a draft statement at the end of a two-day meeting in Italy, the G7 ministers urged Israel to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery to Palestinians and condemned increasing settler violence in the West Bank.

The ministers also condemned the recent attack on the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon and expressed their support for the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, saying it plays a “vital role”.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Foreign Minister of France Jean-Noel Barrot, Foreign Minister of Italy Antonio Tajani, Foreign Minister of South Korea Cho Tae-yul, Foreign Minister of Indonesia Sugiono and Foreign Minister of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar wait for a family photo at the G7 of foreign Ministers in Fiuggi, Italy on Nov 26. — Reuters
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Foreign Minister of France Jean-Noel Barrot, Foreign Minister of Italy Antonio Tajani, Foreign Minister of South Korea Cho Tae-yul, Foreign Minister of Indonesia Sugiono and Foreign Minister of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar wait for a family photo at the G7 of foreign Ministers in Fiuggi, Italy on Nov 26. — Reuters

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