The leaders of the Group of 20 major economies expressed their deep concern in a joint statement issued at their summit in Brazil on Monday over what they described as the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the escalation in Lebanon.

The joint statement stressed the urgent need to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and Lebanon and enhance the protection of civilians, and called for the lifting of all barriers to the provision of humanitarian aid in Gaza.

The leaders said in the statement that they were united in supporting a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, and affirmed their “steadfast commitment” to the two-state solution.

On the other hand, the leaders welcomed every “constructive initiative” aimed at achieving a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace” in Ukraine, in line with the principles of the United Nations and promoting “peaceful, friendly and good” relations between neighboring countries.

The leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies pledged to cooperate to impose an “effective tax on the world’s richest people,” an initiative strongly supported by the summit host, leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The summit had opened earlier on Monday with the launch of a global alliance to combat poverty and hunger, which 81 countries agreed to support.

Source: Al Jazeera + Agencies