The timing could hardly have been worse: Shortly before COP28, Fridays for Future is making headlines because of Greta Thunberg’s and other activists’ controversial statements on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Leonie Sontheimer analyzes how the non-climate debate on the Middle East conflict is dividing the German and international Fridays groups. Shortly before the most important event of the year, the activists are weakened. This means that the voice of critical youth at the COP risks being significantly weaker than in the past – especially in this crucial phase of the climate process. An insider who led COP negotiations for many years tells us what is happening behind the scenes.