Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa received a standing ovation from participants at the plenary session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), held in the Turkish city of Antalya, after calling on the international community to support the Palestinian people and the people of Gaza.
Mustafa said turning climate and development goals into tangible results depended on removing existing obstacles. He noted that Palestinians face barriers preventing them from accessing their natural resources and need preferential terms in climate finance and technology transfer to develop their national capacities. He added: “No people should be deprived of their rights to sustainable development because of any conflict or occupation. We need your support, and the people of Gaza need your support.”
The Palestinian prime minister thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for speaking forcefully and clearly about the disasters facing the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza. Erdoğan said in his speech at the leaders’ summit on Wednesday that Gaza was experiencing environmental destruction alongside genocide.
COP31 President Murat Kurum, Türkiye’s minister of environment, urbanization and climate change, introduced the Palestinian prime minister to the platform, saying: “Türkiye always stands with Palestine and Gaza. We stood with them yesterday, we stand with them today, and tomorrow we will continue working with our Palestinian brothers and sisters in Gaza.” After his speech, Mustafa embraced Minister Kurum and thanked him.
At the end of his speech, participants in the plenary hall once again stood and applauded the Palestinian prime minister, who approached Conference President Murat Kurum and embraced him on the platform in thanks.
The footage shows Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa receiving a standing ovation after finishing his speech before the COP31 plenary session in Antalya, followed by his embrace of Conference President Murat Kurum.
Video: ConflictTR
