Rhino: Agencies – G7 foreign ministers on Tuesday tried to intensify pressure on Israel to accept a ceasefire deal with the Lebanese Hezbollah group, saying “now is the right time to conclude a diplomatic settlement.”

In a statement at the end of a two-day meeting in Italy, the ministers urged Israel to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilian populations in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

“We strongly deplore the escalation of violence by extremist settlers against Palestinians, which undermines security and stability in the West Bank and threatens the prospects for lasting peace,” the statement said.