First G-7 Defence Ministers meeting hosted by Italy in Naples

For the first time in Group of Seven (G-7) history, the defence ministers of the G7 countries met in Naples, Italy, on 19 October 2024. Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto hosted the meeting. Italy holds the rotating presidency of the G-7 for 2024.

The G7 Defence Ministers meeting was held in the background of the Israeli announcement that it has killed the Palestinian militant group Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar. The Israelis have accused Yayha Sinwar as the mastermind of the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and around 240 people were taken hostage by Hamas. Since then, Israel has attacked Gaza, the base of Hamas. 

Who attended the first G-7 Defence Minister meeting 

The G-7 Defence Ministers meeting was attended by the United States Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin, and the defence ministers of the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, and Japan. It was hosted by the Italian defence minister. The meeting was also attended by the representatives of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the European Union, and Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.

The G-7 is a group of advanced industrialised western countries: Italy, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, and the United States. 

G7 Calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. 

In a joint declaration issued after the meeting, the G-7 defence ministers called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas,

It supported Ukraine’s membership in the western military alliance, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation). However, they did not mention the timetable for Ukraine’s membership of NATO as it is likely to provoke Russia, which has been at war with Ukraine for over two years.

During the meeting, the European Union’s chief diplomat(Foreign Minister), Josep Borrell, said that the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, also known as UNIFIL(United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon), needs to be made more effective by the United Nations Security Council.

Attack on UNIFILTroops 

Since October 2023, the Iranian-backed militant Islamic group Hezbollah has been firing rockets at Israel and attacking with drones to express support to the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Hezbollah, which means ‘Party of God, is a political and military force in Lebanon, backed by Iran. It is considered to be a state within a state in war-torn Lebanon. Hezbollah is a violent anti-Israeli and anti-western countries group and has been engaged in hostility with Israel since its creation in the 1980s. 

To stop the continuous rocket and drone attacks of Hezbollah on Israel, the Israeli forces have attacked Hezbollah bases in Southern Lebanon and killed its leader, Hassan Nasrallah. 

Israel Defence Force (IDF) has also launched a ground offensive in South Lebanon to destroy the Hezbollah bases being used to attack Israel. It was during one of these attacks by Israel in Lebanon that five UNIFIL peacekeepers were injured. 

The UNIFIL was established by the United Nations Security Council in 1978 to monitor the withdrawal of Israeli troops from South Lebanon and to restore peace and security in Lebanon. 

UNIFIL's force consists of 10,058 United Nations peacekeepers from 50 contributing countries deployed along the 120km Blue Line. 

The Blue Line demarcates the border between Israel and Lebanon. Around 903 Indian troops, mainly from the Assam Regiment, are part of the UNIFIL peacekeeping force. 

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