Israel Resumes Assault on Gaza After Climate Summit Agreement Reached
Just one day after an agreement was reached at the COP28 climate summit regarding a long-sought rehabilitation fund, Israel has resumed its assault on Gaza, drawing criticism and condemnation from world leaders.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used his platform at the summit to urge leaders to plan for a future without fossil fuels in order to effectively combat global warming. Guterres emphasized that continued use of fossil fuels would not solve the issue, stating, “We cannot save a burning planet with a fire hose of fossil fuels.”
The climate summit, held in the United Arab Emirates, saw competing visions and divisions over the use of fossil fuels among participating nations. While an agreement was reached to create a “loss and damage fund” to assist poor countries affected by climate change, only $700 million was dedicated to the fund, falling short of the $100 billion that developing nations had requested.
The summit was also marred by geopolitical tensions surrounding the war in Gaza, with some leaders using the platform to criticize Israel’s assault. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa accused Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza, breaking the unspoken agreement to avoid political discussions at the climate summit.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog was scheduled to speak at the summit but did not do so after other leaders criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza. The resumption of the assault on Gaza has drawn strong condemnation from Palestinian officials and climate change experts, who have expressed frustration that the issue has overshadowed discussions on the pressing climate crisis.