The UN’s climate conference COP28 kicked off in Dubai on Thursday with a moment of silence for the victims of the conflict in Gaza.

Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian foreign minister who chaired the previous COP talks in Egypt last year, urged delegates to “stand for a moment of silence” in memory of two climate diplomats who recently died “as well as all civilians who have perished during the current conflict in Gaza.”

COP28 is held at Dubai’s Expo City and will run from November 30 to December 12.