The Renewal of Conflict in Gaza Overshadows COP28 Climate Discussions in Dubai

As global leaders convened at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, the resurgence of hostilities in the Israel-Hamas conflict after a ceasefire’s collapse cast a significant shadow over the event. Israel’s top Middle East diplomat, amid meetings at the summit, reviewed a list of hostages held by Hamas, marking those released. Nearby, the Palestinian pavilion’s official reacted with dismay to the news of renewed airstrikes and ground combat in Gaza.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres mentioned the conflict in his address at the summit, emphasizing the turmoil it caused in the region. Initially, the Israel-Hamas war was not the primary focus for Israel at the COP28, held in the UAE, a nation that recently established diplomatic ties with Israel.

Oded Joseph, Israel’s Foreign Ministry’s senior Mideast diplomat, expressed his belief that the war had not damaged Israel’s relations with the UAE and other moderate countries in the region. However, he acknowledged the distressing images of Palestinian civilian casualties broadcast across Arab media, attributing these deaths to Hamas using civilians as human shields. Joseph defended the war’s justification despite its tragic outcomes.

For Palestinian climate change expert Hadeel Ikhmais, the explanations offered fell short against the backdrop of Palestinian fatalities and her own experiences in the West Bank. She questioned the point of negotiating climate change solutions amid such conflict.

The war, initiated by a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, resulted in significant casualties on both sides. Israel’s subsequent military action in Gaza led to thousands of Palestinian deaths, a majority of them women and children, according to Hamas-run Gaza’s Health Ministry. A week-long ceasefire facilitated the exchange of hostages, with most released individuals being women and children.

At the summit, environmental groups and displays highlighted a pro-Palestinian sentiment, with King Abdullah II of Jordan also criticizing the war’s environmental impact. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s arrival in Dubai aimed to extend the ceasefire and facilitate further hostage exchanges. President Joe Biden has called for renewed negotiations for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis.

Joseph, however, dismissed negotiations with Hamas, reiterating Israel’s commitment to its military campaign. Conversely, Ikhmais criticized the feasibility of a two-state solution, pointing to the Israeli government’s actions and the extensive damage in Gaza that would divert funds from climate mitigation. She questioned the progress made over the last two decades toward a two-state solution, attributing the lack of progress to Israeli policies.