Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed on Thursday during the UN climate talks in Dubai. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, the terrorist organization responsible for the recent Israel-Hamas war.
Herzog emphasized the importance of taking action to free the Israeli hostages and appealed to his Emirati counterpart to use his political influence to expedite their return. In a statement, Herzog mentioned that he would be holding a series of diplomatic meetings in Dubai to advocate for the release of the hostages.
The meeting between Herzog and bin Zayed took place ahead of the COP28 summit, where more than 140 heads of state and government are expected to address the attendees. Herzog is scheduled to deliver a three-minute speech on Friday, during which he plans to demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. He also intends to highlight efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the civilians affected by the conflict.
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas was initially scheduled to speak at COP28 but has decided not to attend. Instead, his foreign minister will represent him. Since the truce began on November 24, 70 Israeli hostages have been released in exchange for 210 Palestinian prisoners. Additionally, around 30 foreigners, mostly Thais working in Israel, have been freed outside the terms of the agreement.
While Israel sees the truce as a temporary halt aimed at freeing hostages, there are growing calls for a more lasting pause in the conflict. The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7 when militants from Gaza crossed the border into Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the kidnapping of approximately 240 individuals.
In response, Israel launched an air and ground campaign with the goal of dismantling Hamas. The Hamas government in Gaza claims that nearly 15,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed as a result of the campaign.
The ongoing conflict has overshadowed the UN climate talks in Dubai, with activists demanding a permanent ceasefire and an end to Israel’s 17-year blockade of the Gaza Strip. The UAE, one of the few Arab states to recognize Israel, established diplomatic ties with the country in 2020 as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords. However, the UAE is also keen to demonstrate solidarity with the Palestinians. It has sent a 150-bed field hospital to Gaza and has committed to providing medical treatment to 2,000 Palestinians, including 1,000 children and an equal number of cancer patients.
In conclusion, Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed during the UN climate talks in Dubai focused on the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Herzog emphasized the need for action and called on his Emirati counterpart to use his political influence to expedite their return. The meeting took place ahead of the COP28 summit, where Herzog plans to demand the release of all hostages and highlight humanitarian efforts in Gaza. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has cast a shadow over the climate talks, with activists calling for a permanent ceasefire and an end to the blockade of Gaza. The UAE, while recognizing Israel, is also committed to supporting the Palestinians through medical aid and treatment.