Israeli President Isaac Herzog is due to attend the UN climate talks in the United Arab Emirates today where he will hold talks with diplomats on the release of hostages held by Hamas, AFP reports.

At COP28, which will also be attended by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, Herzog will hold a “series of diplomatic meetings on the importance of releasing the hostages held by Hamas”, the Israeli presidency said in a statement.

He “intends to engage world leaders in a high-level humanitarian effort to return the hostages”, the statement said.

More than 140 heads of state and government are due to address COP28 on Friday and Saturday, including Herzog and Abbas who are both scheduled to make speeches lasting three minutes on Friday.