At the COP28 World Climate Action Summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog. The leaders convened on the sidelines of the summit to address the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, marking a pivotal moment in diplomatic relations.

Expressing condolences for the tragic loss of lives in the Hamas terror attack on October 7, Prime Minister Modi welcomed the recent release of hostages, emphasizing the need for a "durable" resolution to the Israel-Palestine issue. The leaders exchanged views on the conflict, with Modi reiterating India's strong support for a two-state solution through dialogue and diplomacy.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi provided insights into the discussions, stating, "PM Narendra Modi met President Isaac Herzog of Israel on the sidelines of COP28 WCAS in Dubai. The two leaders exchanged views on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the region. PM Modi expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the October 07 terror attacks and welcomed the release of hostages."

The Prime Minister emphasized the imperative of continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid to the affected population and reiterated India's commitment to a two-state solution. Bagchi quoted Modi, stating, "The PM reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population. He emphasized India's support for a two-state solution and early and durable resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy."

The Israel-Hamas conflict has seen significant casualties, with 1200 reported deaths in Israel following the October 7 terror attack and extensive retaliatory actions in Gaza.

President Herzog, in his remarks, highlighted the challenges posed by Hamas's blatant violations of ceasefire agreements. "At the COP28 conference, I met dozens of leaders from around the world. I spoke with them about how Hamas blatantly violates the ceasefire agreements and repeated again and again the demand to place the release of the hostages at the very top of the international community’s agenda, alongside respect for the right of the State of Israel to defend itself," he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi engaged with other global leaders during the summit, including the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali, British PM Rishi Sunak, UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and others.

In his address at the COP28 event, PM Modi proposed hosting the summit in India in 2028, emphasizing India's commitment to reducing emissions by 45% by 2030. "We have decided to increase the share of non-fossil fuel to 50%. We will also keep going ahead towards our goal of net zero by 2070," he declared.

As the COP28 Summit unfolds, these diplomatic engagements underscore the critical intersection of climate action and geopolitical issues, bringing global leaders together to address multifaceted challenges.

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