Iraqi PM Al-Sudani praised Abu Ragheef’s humanitarian and ethical work. [Photo taken from Iraqi PM’s media office on X]
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani has announced plans to establish an Iraqi hospital in Gaza to serve the local population and to affirm Iraq’s stance against displacement of Palestinians and marginalisation of the Palestinian cause.
The announcement followed his meeting with Iraqi doctor Mohammed Taher Abu Ragheef, who participated in humanitarian aid and medical treatment for Gaza residents throughout Israel’s indiscriminate war on Gaza, which began in October 2023.
According to a statement from the Iraqi PM’s media office, Al-Sudani praised Abu Ragheef’s humanitarian and ethical work, describing his actions as “a source of pride for all Iraqis” and a reflection of the values held by the Iraqi people towards the Palestinians and their just cause.
He highlighted “the importance of the humanitarian and ethical role played by Dr Abu Ragheef in facing the tragedy of Gaza,” commending his “honourable stance which is a matter of pride for all Iraqis and represents the values upheld by our people towards the Palestinian people and their just cause.”
The statement also confirmed that Al-Sudani ordered the construction of the hospital in Gaza to support the resilience of the Palestinian people and to reinforce Iraq’s “principled and humanitarian position”.
Parliamentary Support for Palestine
In a related development, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani proposed several initiatives to support Palestine and help prevent the displacement of Gaza’s residents.
Al-Mashhadani called on Arab parliaments to pass unified laws rejecting the relocation of Gaza’s residents to other countries, including Jordan and Egypt.
US President Donald Trump has advocated a widely condemned plan that would see Gaza’s residents displaced and the territory redeveloped as a new “Riviera of the Middle East”.
Al-Mashhadani stressed that maintaining Palestinian communities within their homeland is crucial to preserving their identity and rights.
He also proposed imposing legal penalties on nations and companies, including technology firms, that contribute to targeting Palestinians. This follows reports of the use of artificial intelligence by Israel to identify targets in Gaza.
To enhance humanitarian support, Al-Mashhadani suggested passing new laws to expedite urgent aid for Gaza, including coordinating the delivery of assistance with neighbouring countries and ensuring medical treatment for the injured. Iraq has previously pledged $25 million to Palestinian refugees through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
Last year the Iraqi government treated dozens of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who were wounded by indiscriminate Israeli attacks and were previously hospitalised in Egypt.
The speaker also proposed establishing an Arab-Islamic investment fund dedicated to rebuilding Gaza and the West Bank.
Al-Mashhadani urged Arab parliaments to mandate their governments to provide immediate and long-term financial assistance to Gaza and the West Bank and advocated for strengthening UNRWA’s role and opposing any attempts to halt its operations.
To boost local economies in Gaza and the West Bank, Al-Mashhadani recommended providing direct and indirect financial support. He also proposed exempting Palestinian-made products from taxes and customs duties to promote local industries, helping to alleviate poverty and ensure a dignified life for Palestinians.
He also called for unified Arab legislation to criminalise any form of normalisation with Israel until a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is established. Iraq has consistently opposed normalising relations with Israel, maintaining a firm stance on Palestinian statehood.
Al-Mashhadani also urged Islamic parliaments to adopt similar measures to foster a unified stance in support of Palestinians.
