Biden to miss COP 28 climate summit due to war on Gaza
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Biden will not attend COP28 to deal with the challenges of managing the ongoing Gaza war and the anticipated intensification of his presidential campaign in January.
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President Joe Biden pauses as he speaks to reporters in Nantucket, Mass., Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023 (AP)
US President Joe Biden is expected to miss the opening of COP 28 this week, but will instead send top US officials to the UN climate summit in Dubai this week, the White House confirmed.
Biden attended the previous two COP summits and has put tackling climate change at the center of his policymaking. Environmental policy forms a key part of his administration's national security strategy. As per the New York Times, Senior White House aides suggested that Biden was busy dealing with matters heavier on his plate, such as the war in Gaza.
Over 70,000 delegates are expected to attend COP 28, which begins on Thursday and the world leaders' summit will be held on Friday and Saturday.
The Israeli occupation forces are suffering heavy losses in the northern front, and are not disclosing them.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 23, 2023
Since the start of the war on #Gaza, the Islamic Resistance in #Lebanon has constantly pounded Israeli outposts near the border, resulting in a sizeable number of… pic.twitter.com/bkHIyCULkl
The official White House schedule indicates that President Biden is slated to participate solely in the National Tree Lighting event and conduct a bilateral meeting with President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco of Angola. The discussion during the meeting will center around climate and energy matters.
Biden's agenda for the week includes just one additional engagement: a Sunday reception honoring Kennedy Center Honorees. The distinguished awardees encompass actor and comedian Billy Crystal, Bee Gees member Barry Gibb, renowned singer Dionne Warwick, and multifaceted artist Queen Latifah.
The White House has not categorically stated that Biden will not attend COP 28, keeping the possibility he could make an appearance later on.
Cop 28 coincides with the 4-day truce in Gaza and the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Strip.
Biden's 'sticky' situation
It is no doubt that the US President is showing concern about the ongoing war in Gaza and the Resistance's confrontation with "Israel".
On that note, the days after the four-day truce, according to the Washington Post, could be "dark" for the occupation entity, which would concern Biden.
According to David Ignatius in The Washington Post, after "Israel" paused its war on Gaza, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) are faced with a "controversial dilemma" of considering how exactly they will resume their bombardment of the strip in their alleged effort to "eradicate" Hamas.
One senior Israeli official expressed that the release of 13 captives by Hamas was "bittersweet", explaining that the near future has some "high-intensity conflict" in store.
The official did not back down from the IOF's intention to destroy Hamas, in turn destroying Gaza and yet killing thousands more Palestinians, despite the mounting international pressure for a permanent ceasefire.
Read next: Poll points, clout Biden's main concern in opposite narratives on Gaza
Another possible concern, is the escalation of Israeli aggression, coinciding with the esclation of resistance operaitons.
IOF Chief of Staff Gen. Herzi Halevi said the occupation forces will continue their aggression in Gaza “with determination” once the temporary truce in the Gaza Strip ends. “We created conditions for the framework of the release of the first group of hostage children and mothers [that is taking place] during this pause” in the war, Halevi said.
“When the framework is completed, we will return to our operations with determination for the continued release of the hostages and the complete dismantlement of Hamas,” he added.
This comes after Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant stated on November 23 that the humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip between "Israel" and the Palestinian resistance will be followed by approximately two months of war.
Biden loses Democrat votes due to war
According to a new NBC poll, President Biden’s approval rating has hit its lowest since he was elected.
The rating of 40% comes as Biden has terribly handled the war on Gaza and ignored the repeated calls for a ceasefire. Twenty-four Democratic members of Congress have previously asked Biden to address "grave violations of children's rights" in Gaza by calling for an urgent ceasefire.
The poll even suggests Biden is behind Trump in a hypothetical election. The decline of support for Biden is most evident among Democrats, with the majority believing "Israel" has gone too far in its relentless bombardment of Gaza, and among voters aged 18 to 34, with a staggering 70% disapproving of Biden's handling of the situation.
Read next: US passes $14.3bn aid bill to 'Israel' despite Democratic opposition
Some respondents expressed they “do not support his support of 'Israel',” while others cited “Failed promises, student loans, foreign policy in general."
Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates, who led the survey with Republican pollster Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies expressed that “Joe Biden is at a uniquely low point in his presidency, and a significant part of this, especially within the Biden coalition, is due to how Americans are viewing his foreign policy actions."
McInturff stated that he cannot recall a time when international issues that did not include US soldiers reshaped the American political scene.
