With the resumption of the aggression against Gaza… withdrawals, absences, and condemnations at the climate conference in the Emirates

The resumption of the devastating Israeli war in Gaza on Friday overshadowed the United Nations climate conference (COP28) held in Dubai, as some delegations withdrew, leaders canceled their speeches, while others were absent from the event.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his speech, “It is impossible not to address the humanitarian crisis taking place in the Palestinian territories neighboring us, as a result of the Israeli aggression,” which “cannot be justified under any circumstances.” He considered this a “humanitarian crime and a war crime.”

In turn, the presidents of Colombia and Cuba described this war as “genocide.”

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, was absent from the final list of speakers after his name was included in it.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did not attend the summit, although he was scheduled to be the first speaker.

“As we see in this region, conflicts cause enormous suffering and inflame emotions,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the summit. “We have just heard reports of renewed bombs in Gaza.”

The Iranian delegation suddenly withdrew from the conference in protest against the Israeli presence, which the head of the delegation, Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian, described as “contrary to the goals and directions of the conference.”

Iranian official media reported on Thursday that President Ebrahim Raisi would not attend the conference and that Mehrabian would act in his place.

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid used his speech to condemn the aggressive attack on Gaza, calling on the international community to “stand firmly” in its face.

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A war against innocent people

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that his country was “appalled by the ongoing tragedy in Gaza, and the war against innocent people in Palestine is a war crime that must stop.”

Other leaders also criticized the war in Gaza, but Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi did not address it.

With the war in Gaza dominating the discussions at the conference, Israeli President Isaac Herzog canceled his speech, a day after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas canceled his participation in the conference.

So far, the Israeli aggression against Gaza has led to the fall of more than 15,000 martyrs, most of whom are women and children.

Israel says that Operation Al-Aqsa Flood – launched by the resistance in the settlements surrounding Gaza on October 7 – resulted in the killing of 1,200 Israeli soldiers and settlers.

The Palestinian resistance said that the operation came in response to the occupation’s crimes against civilians in the West Bank and Gaza and its desecration of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.

It is noteworthy that the United Arab Emirates, the host country of the conference, is one of the Arab countries that signed normalization agreements with Israel in 2020.