Some world leaders participating in the United Nations climate change conference (COP28) criticized Israel on Friday, amid the collapse of the truce between it and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), and called for an end to the war in Gaza while American and British officials held meetings regarding the conflict on the sidelines of the summit.
The leaders highlighted the war in their speeches during the conference, which revealed international divisions over bloodshed and distracted from a summit aimed at achieving consensus about the common threat posed by climate change.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told leaders during his official address at the conference, "While discussing the climate crisis, we cannot ignore the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories next to us." He added, "The current situation in Gaza represents a war crime and a crime against humanity, and those responsible must be held accountable under international law."
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa echoed this sentiment in his speech, stating, "South Africa feels fear regarding the horrific tragedy currently unfolding in Gaza. The war against the innocent Palestinian people is a war crime that must end now."
Jordan's King Abdullah remarked that focusing on global warming is difficult while fighting is ongoing in Gaza. He noted, "We cannot talk about climate change in isolation from the humanitarian tragedies we see around us."
A group of protesters at the conference, some wearing shirts saying "Ceasefire," chanted "Free Palestine." An Israeli official told Reuters that the military is committed to international law and intends to destroy Hamas.
Although protests are a common feature at climate conferences, they are rare in the UAE. A conference spokesperson stated that "the UAE protects the right to protest in accordance with relevant international agreements."
*Bilateral Relations*
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that he met with officials from Arab countries to discuss the future of Gaza on the sidelines of the conference. A senior U.S. State Department official stated that Blinken met with the foreign ministers of Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain, along with representatives from the Palestinian Authority.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's office reported that he met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during the summit in Dubai, and they expressed deep regret over the collapse of the truce in Gaza.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog was also present at the conference and held a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The UAE is one of the few Arab countries with official relations with Israel. However, Herzog did not deliver his scheduled speech on Friday.
King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid called for an end to the war. Iranian state media reported that the Iranian delegation left the summit in protest against the Israeli presence, while Colombian President Gustavo Petro linked environmental issues to the war.
