© Reuters. Local weather activists protest in help of Palestinians in Gaza, amid the continued battle between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, on the United Nations Local weather Change Convention (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 3, 2023. REUT
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By Alexander Cornwell
DUBAI (Reuters) – Greater than 100 activists within the Dubai Expo Metropolis the place this 12 months’s COP28 U.N. local weather summit is being held took half in a protest on Sunday to name for a ceasefire within the Israel-Hamas struggle in Gaza.
The protests have been uncommon to see within the United Arab Emirates the place freedom of expression is proscribed, however as hosts of the annual U.N. convention, the UAE is permitting protests to happen at COP28 itself.
Holding banners calling for a “ceasefire” and “climate decolonisation”, activists chanted “Free, Free Palestine”.
“We are seeking an end to the siege, end to the occupation,” Palestinian-American Tariq Luthun informed Reuters after collaborating in an earlier, smaller demonstration calling for a ceasefire.
Jacob Maurice Johns, an Indigenous activist from North America, mentioned Palestinian voices have been being silenced and wanted the world to face in solidarity with them.
In a press release issued on Sunday at COP28, Israel’s Consul Basic Liron Zaslanaky mentioned her nation was combating in self-defence and doing its greatest to keep away from harming civilians.
Israel says Hamas gunmen killed about 1,200 Israelis and foreigners and took round 240 hostage after they stormed southern Israel on Oct. 7. Gazan well being officers say greater than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s subsequent bombardment and invasion of the coastal enclave.
There to this point have been no demonstrations outdoors the COP28 website, not like at earlier U.N. local weather summits reminiscent of COP26 in Glasgow the place 1000’s of local weather activists rallied within the streets.
Even throughout the confines of COP28, local weather activists mentioned they have been making an attempt humor to attract delegates’ consideration.
American activist Alice McGown dressed up Sunday as a dugong and held an indication saying “no more fossils” to protest the deliberate growth of state-run Abu Dhabi Nationwide Oil Co’s offshore gasoline operations in a protected marine space that’s house to the aquatic mammals.
Some activists at COP28 expressed fear about UAE surveillance.
“This is a very restricted political space,” mentioned Lyndinyda Nacpil, a Filipino activist who mentioned she needed to navigate strict U.N. guidelines in serving to to organise Sunday’s bigger Palestinian rally.
Others on the rally mentioned there could possibly be “no climate justice without human rights”, however they have been cautious not criticise Israel by title to stick to U.N. pointers.
A COP28 spokesperson mentioned the UAE protects the fitting to protest according to worldwide agreements. UAE authorities didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon the protests.
The struggle in Gaza has featured prominently at COP28, the place a number of world leaders on Friday spoke critically of Israel’s bombardment.
Whereas nation exhibition areas usually give attention to climate-related points, the Israeli pavilion this 12 months incorporates a e book of pictures of hostages taken by the militant Palestinian group Hamas.
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