World Leaders Condemn Gaza Air Strikes as COP28 Climate Talks Take Unexpected Turn

 As deadly air strikes resumed in the Gaza Strip after a week-long truce, world leaders gathered at the UN COP28 climate talks in Dubai took the opportunity to express their concerns and lament the Israel-Hamas war that has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan highlighted the humanitarian crisis occurring in Palestinian territories, referring to it as a "humanitarian crime" and a "war crime." The presidents of Colombia and Cuba went as far as labeling the war as genocide.

The conflict initially erupted after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack, killing approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping around 240 individuals, according to Israeli authorities. In response, Israel pledged to eliminate Hamas and carried out an extensive air and ground campaign in Gaza, which the Hamas government claims has resulted in the deaths of about 15,000 people, mostly civilians. As the violence escalated in Gaza, with over 100 reported dead, according to Hamas, numerous world leaders addressed COP28.

However, Israeli President Isaac Herzog did not appear for his scheduled speech, following the cancellation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's visit to the conference. Notably, Qatar's emir, originally listed as one of the speakers, and Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman were absent from the meeting, despite being scheduled to give speeches. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke at the World Climate Action Summit, expressing concern about the immense suffering caused by conflicts in the region.

Guterres mentioned hearing news of bombs resuming in Gaza, underscoring the urgent need for attention to the ongoing crisis. Iran's delegation walked out of COP28 in protest of Israel's presence, as delegation chief and Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian claimed it contradicted the conference's goals and guidelines. Iraqi President Abdel Latif Rashid condemned the aggressive assault on Gaza and urged the international community to stand firm against it. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his country's appall over the ongoing tragedy in Gaza, labeling it a "war crime."

While other leaders also criticized the war, there was no mention of Gaza from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, despite his country's proximity and shared border with the territory. The United Arab Emirates, as the host country of COP28, recognized Israel after signing the Abraham Accords in 2020, making it one of the few Arab states to do so. The discussion on climate change at COP28 became intertwined with the urgent need to address the devastating Israel-Hamas conflict, as world leaders expressed their concerns and called for an end to the violence and human suffering occurring in Gaza. The absence of several leaders and the provocative actions taken by Iranian officials added further complexity to the international gathering focused on climate action.