Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Dubai on Thursday on the sidelines of the COP 28, the U.N. Climate Change Conference, Herzog’s office said.
Herzog said he asked his Emirati counterpart to use his “full diplomatic weight” to help free the hostages still in the hands of Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
Sheikh Mohammed stressed the need to let humanitarian aid into the coastal enclave, according to Jerusalem’s statement.
As part of Israel's ongoing efforts to see the release and return home of the hostages, I held an important meeting with the President of the United Arab Emirates, HH Sheikh @MohamedBinZayed. I thank him for the warm welcome here in Dubai as part of the UN Climate Conference.… pic.twitter.com/lNWit1Nt19
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) November 30, 2023
During diplomatic meetings on Thursday, Herzog highlighted the atrocities committed by Hamas during the massacre perpetrated against Israel on Oct. 7, emphasized the fundamental security threat faced by Israel and stressed the country’s duty to defend its people.
To date the terror group has returned approximately 100 hostages it seized on Oct. 7; it is believed to still be holding 145.
Herzog said he intended to engage world leaders in a high-level humanitarian effort to return the hostages while emphasizing Israel’s ongoing humanitarian efforts, which are an integral part of the overall campaign against Hamas.
