LEADERS of the world’s 20 major economies have called for a global pact to combat hunger, more aid for war-torn Gaza and an end to hostilities in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Monday’s joint declaration, which was short on details as to how those goals are to be accomplished, received endorsement from group members but fell short of unanimity. 

It also called for a future global tax on billionaires and for reforms to expand the membership of the United Nations security council.

At the start of the three-day meeting, which formally ends tomorrow, experts doubted that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva could convince the leaders to reach any agreement in a gathering rife with uncertainty over the incoming administration of US President-elect Donald Trump.

The declaration referred to the “catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the escalation in Lebanon,” stressing the urgent need to expand humanitarian assistance and better protect civilians.

“Affirming the Palestinian right to self-determination, we reiterate our unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-state solution where Israel and a Palestinian state live side by side in peace,” it said.

Mr Biden’s decision to ease restrictions on Kiev’s use of longer-range US missiles to allow Ukraine to strike more deeply inside Russia was also raised at the meetings.

“The US strongly supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Everyone around this table in my view should as well,” the US president said during the summit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend the meeting, instead sending Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. 

The declaration did call for a possible tax on global billionaires, which Lula supports. The clause was included despite opposition from Argentina. 

Much of the declaration focused on eradicating hunger.

Lula’s launch of the global alliance against hunger and poverty on Monday was as important as the final G20 declaration. As of the day, 82 nations had signed up to the plan, Brazil’s government said.

Oxfam Brazil executive director director Viviana Santiago praised the country for lighting “a path toward a more just and resilient world, challenging others to meet them at this critical juncture.”

Leaders also pledged to work for “transformative reform” of the UN security council so that it aligned “with the realities and demands of the 21st century, making it more representative, inclusive, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable.”

Five permanent members — the US, Russia, China, Britain and France — have had veto powers since the UN was founded at the end of World War II, while 10 countries from different regions serve rotating two-year terms.