Palestinian Ambassador: Iraq provides education to students, addressing needs of injured and sick individuals in hospitals

INA-  BAGHDAD


The Palestinian Ambassador to Iraq, Ahmed Al-Ruwaidi, confirmed today, Monday, that the upcoming Arab summit in Baghdad will support the Arab positions towards Palestine and the reconstruction of Gaza, while indicating that Iraq receives Palestinian students in its universities and takes care of treating the injured and sick in hospitals.
 
Al-Ruwaidi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "Iraq has several follow-ups within the framework of the Palestinian issue, as there is political support from the Iraqi government and Iraqi diplomatic movement at the international level regarding the rejection of displacement and settlement, in addition to the announcement of a Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital. This position was emphasized by the Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fuad Hussein, and there are also movements within the framework of the international organization, and Iraq is making an effort in integrated coordination between the Iraqi and Palestinian leadership in this framework."
 
Al-Ruwaidi added: "Next July, a summit related to peace in the region will be held, and the Arab position in this regard is very important," noting that "there is financial and humanitarian support from Iraq directed to Gaza, embodied in supporting the Palestinian government, supporting UNRWA, sending fuel to Gaza, and receiving the wounded, as these measures are very important to us within the framework of the humanitarian relief we need in Gaza, such as food, water, electricity and medicine."
 
He mentioned that "the Iraqi Red Crescent Society is carrying out activities to deliver aid to Gaza, while the Supreme Committee formed by the Prime Minister sent several convoys of medicines, food and medical supplies, and this played a major role in alleviating the suffering at the time."
 
The ambassador added that "the capital Baghdad will host the Arab Summit in early May, as the vision that the Iraqis will present at this summit, in addition to the ongoing contacts between the Palestinian and Iraqi leaderships, aims for the summit to produce exceptional positive results, and to be the real Palestine Summit, so that important decisions are issued in the areas of following up and implementing Palestinian issues, most notably the reconstruction of Gaza," expecting that "there will be an announcement of a fund for the reconstruction of Gaza, adopted by the Iraqi government as a decision on its part, considering that this gives Iraq strength in chairing this fund."
 
He pointed out that "Iraq had submitted a request at the conference of Arab Ministers of Sports and Youth held in Baghdad two weeks ago, to establish a fund for the reconstruction of sports and youth facilities in Gaza, which was actually done in this meeting headed by Iraq."
 
Al-Ruwaidi praised Iraq's steadfast position in supporting the Palestinian cause over 76 years, saying: "We currently evaluate Iraq's position positively, as the Palestinian leadership appreciates the moves made by the Prime Minister, the President of the Republic and the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs at various levels."
 
He stressed, saying: "The important thing is to crystallize a unified Arab position on the issue of displacement and settlement, and what US President Donald Trump has proposed in this regard. Therefore, we are in constant contact with the Iraqi government in order to have a firm Arab position that includes rejecting displacement and settlement and presenting an Arab-Palestinian vision for the reconstruction and relief of Gaza, without any dimension of changing the identity of its people, as Gaza is part of the homeland of Palestine, and there is no state without Jerusalem."
 
The ambassador continued: "Despite the difficulty of the situation, we need everyone's support at this stage, whether at the official level or at the level of religious references, parties, the Iraqi street, unions, and federations," indicating that "Iraq occupies a leadership position in most of these international federations in the fields of justice, labor, advocacy, and journalism, and we need decisions that support the Palestinian position and the rights of the Palestinians," adding that "Iraq has spared no effort in this matter."
 
Al-Ruwaidi stressed "the firm Palestinian position expressed by President Mahmoud Abbas, saying: Whoever thinks that the deal of the century can pass by the Palestinian people is delusional."
 
He continued, "During Trump's first term, there was a project for the Deal of the Century that sought to isolate Al-Quds and end the Palestinian cause. This deal was rejected, and we remained steadfast despite the political and financial pressures from the Americans. We remained on the political map. No one can bring the Palestinian people to their knees or impose solutions on them that exceed their national rights, most notably freedom and the establishment of an independent state with Al-Quds as its capital."
 
He pointed out that "the Iraqis were among the first to receive the wounded Palestinians at the General Medical Hospital in Baghdad, where they provided them with all the necessary care at a high level of services, not only in the medical field, but also on the humanitarian side, as direct care was provided by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health. There is also coordination with the holy shrines in the holy Karbala and Najaf governorates, where they expressed their full readiness to receive other wounded."
 
The ambassador added that "Iraq received Palestinian students to complete their studies in Iraqi universities and educational institutions, which is important in light of the destruction of educational and health institutions in Gaza. The first delegation from Al-Azhar University arrived in Gaza, where dental students are receiving their education at the University of Baghdad, reflecting Iraq's continued support for Palestine in various fields." He pointed out that "a decision was made to treat Palestinians in Egyptian and Jordanian hospitals at the expense of the Iraqi government. This high humanitarian stance in light of the exceptional circumstances confirms that Iraq always remains faithful to its covenant and continues to support the Palestinian people at all times."