Foreign ministers from Group of Seven (G-7) nations have voiced support for again extending the temporary truce in Gaza, stressing the need to protect civilians, Anadolu Agency reports.

In a joint statement, the diplomats from G-7 nations said every effort must be made to ensure humanitarian support for civilians, including food, water, fuel, and medical supplies.

“We support the further extension of this pause and future pauses as needed to enable assistance to be scaled up, and to facilitate the release of all hostages,” said the statement by Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

They called the recently extended pause “a crucial step towards bringing all remaining hostages home and addressing the full scope of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”