In a dramatic turn of events, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East took center stage at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, overshadowing discussions on climate change. The Iranian delegation made a bold statement by walking out of the summit, citing the "political, biased and irrelevant presence of the fake Zionist regime" in reference to Israel.

The turmoil began on Friday, shortly after the leaders posed for a group photo at the Dubai venue. Iran's energy minister, speaking to the country's official news agency, highlighted the delegation's objection to the presence of Israel. By Friday afternoon, the Iranian pavilion had emptied out, leaving a void in the discussions.

The war in Gaza was brought up by several leaders during their allotted three-minute speeches at the summit. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, the president of last year's COP27 summit, called for a moment of silence in memory of climate negotiators who had recently died and all civilians affected by the conflict in Gaza. Jordanian King Abdullah II, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also expressed their concerns about the war in their speeches.

Despite the escalating conflict, discussions on climate change continued in the back rooms of the conference venue. Urgent talks on the war were held between world leaders, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Discussions also took place involving Vice President Kamala Harris and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who focused on the conflict in Gaza rather than climate action.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in his brief visit to Dubai, addressed not only climate change but also the regional security situation. Sunak met with Israel's Herzog, Jordan's Abdullah, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al Sisi, and the Emir of Qatar. The prime minister's spokesperson stated that most of the bilateral meetings were dominated by discussions on the Israel-Hamas conflict and efforts to de-escalate tensions and provide aid to affected civilians.

The heightened focus on the conflict also led to meetings between other world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, who planned to discuss the security situation and then proceed to talks in Qatar. European leaders Leo Varadkar, Alexander De Croo, and Pedro Sánchez, who are strong supporters of the Palestinians, held talks on the fringes of the summit on Friday morning.

The clash between Israel and Hamas even impacted the climate summit on an individual level. Israel withdrew its ambassador to Spain in response to what it deemed as "shameful remarks" by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez regarding the situation.

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva lamented the divided state of the world during his speech. He emphasized the importance of unity and joint action in tackling climate change, expressing concern that war and violence were instead tearing the world apart.

The COP28 climate summit in Dubai continues amidst the backdrop of the Middle East conflict, with leaders striving to address both climate change and the urgent need for peace in the region. The discussions reflect the intertwined nature of global challenges, highlighting the undeniable reality that no nation can escape the devastating effects of the climate crisis.

In the midst of ongoing crises, the urgency to protect our planet remains paramount. The world looks to the summit for solutions, hoping that amidst the conflicts, leaders can forge a path towards a greener and more sustainable future.