Iraq's Al-Sudani from Riyadh: Shame will follow all who have contributed to the killing of innocents

Shafaq News/ Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani confirmed on Monday, from the Saudi capital Riyadh, that "the stain of shame will follow all who have contributed to the killing of innocents or supported oppressors against the oppressed," urging a firm stance to stop the war and suffering of the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples.

In his speech during the Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh, convened to address the recent aggression in Gaza and Lebanon and the current developments in the region, Al-Sudani clarified, "The conflict did not start on October 7, 2023, as some portray it, pointing instead to decades of occupation, displacement, land seizure, and violations of international laws and human rights,” according to a statement from al-Sudani’s Media Office.

He further pointed out that the ongoing aggression has caused extensive loss of life and suffering, particularly among women and children, resulting in thousands of deaths, injuries, and displacements, while being “largely ignored by major powers and the international community.”

The PM reiterated Iraq’s stance on de-escalation and its opposition to all forms of escalation, warning of “Zionist’s intent to expand the conflict, which could lead to a wider war with severe economic consequences in a region that supplies energy to the world.”

In this context, he reaffirmed Iraq's proposal to establish an Arab and Islamic fund to rebuild Gaza and Lebanon, address the widespread destruction, and support displaced populations, while countering “the Zionist agenda of displacing rightful landowners.”

“The international community and its institutions have largely failed to stop the escalation and prevent the ongoing genocide and crimes in Gaza and Lebanon,” he said. “This failure has emboldened the Zionist aggression, extending to Lebanon, a sovereign state, where crimes are committed in their most brutal form.”

Furthermore, Al-Sudani confirmed that the Palestinians are “the rightful holders” of the cause, land, and decision, stating, “No one has the right to concede or negotiate on their behalf.”

He expressed support for the establishment of a Palestinian state on all of its land, with Al-Quds as its capital, adding, “A strong and honest stance is required to end the war and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian and Lebanese people…All Arab and Islamic countries must contribute to relief efforts.”

Earlier today, al-Sudani arrived in Riyadh to attend the joint summit of Arab and Muslim leaders, where he met with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Both sides underscored the necessity to “coordinate positions and adopt decisive resolutions during the summit to halt the ongoing Zionist aggression on Gaza and Lebanon,” urging major powers and international organizations to “assume responsibility for the violations committed by occupation forces against civilians in the occupied territories and Lebanon.”

The summit follows Israel’s large-scale military operations in Gaza that began on October 7, 2023, killing over 44,300 Palestinians and injuring about 102,000 others.

In Lebanon, Israeli raids also killed, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, 3,189 people, including women and children, and injured 14,078 others.