Blinken meets Japanese counterpart ahead of Gaza-dominated G7 meeting

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met his Japanese counterpart Yoko Kamikawa in Tokyo ahead of a meeting of G7 foreign ministers to seek a common line on Gaza amid growing calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

He called on Tuesday on the G7 to speak about the Israel-Hamas war as he kicked off talks with fellow foreign ministers from the grouping in Japan.This is a very important moment for the G7 to come together in the face of this crisis and speak as we do in one clear voice," Blinken said at the start of the meeting.

A key ally of Israel, the United States has resisted calling for a ceasefire, insisting that Israel has the right to respond though Washington has called for pauses in the fighting. Japanese counterpart Yoko Kamikawa said at the start of a working dinner devoted to the Gaza situation that she wanted a candid and deep discussion.