Baghdad: Prime Minister, Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani participated, today, Tuesday, in the conference (Emergency Humanitarian Response in Gaza), hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan at the Dead Sea, and aims to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

Al-Sudani stressed, in a speech he delivered during the conference, ‘The aggression against Gaza revealed the fragility of the international system and its inability to carry out its duties and responsibilities, just as the world stood helpless in the face of the horrific numbers of Palestinian casualties.’

The Prime Minister stressed that “the aggression led to a worsening of the humanitarian and economic situation throughout Gaza, and caused displacement and demolition of homes, infrastructure, and most service facilities, educational and health institutions.”

He reaffirmed the initiative launched by Iraq at the 2023 Peace Conference, which was held in Cairo in October of last year, which included establishin
g a fund to support Gaza after the aggression, developing a thoughtful assessment that identifies needs, and divides obligations among the participating countries in a systematic manner.

Al-Sudani said during the conference: We are meeting today to determine ways to strengthen and coordinate the international community’s response to the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the aggression against Gaza.

He added, “The percentage of displaced people in the Gaza Strip reached more than 80% of its total population of approximately two million and 300 thousand people, and 500 thousand workers left their jobs due to the war. The aggression destroyed 370 thousand housing units in Gaza, and more than 53 % of water and sanitation facilities were damaged. And Gaza power station has stopped working since October 2023, and it needs 400,000 liters of fuel per day.

He explained, “82% of schools were out of service, and nearly 625,000 male and female students were deprived of education, at all levels. More than (5,500) male
and female students, (261) teachers, and (95) university professors were martyred, and more than 8,000 were injured.”

Al-Sudani affirmed, “The world watched live the bombing of hospitals, and the massacres committed against doctors, health personnel, and patients in hospitals. 32 hospitals in the Gaza Strip were out of service, out of 35, as some were demolished and others were damaged. And more than (195) archaeological sites, (13) public libraries, (227) mosques, and (3) churches also damaged.

He added, “The occupation authority committed war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity, during which it carried out killing, starvation, and displacement against the Palestinian people. The suffering of the Palestinians was exacerbated by the lack of food and medicine, and the loss of drinking water and fuel, after the occupation tightly closed the crossings and prevented the entry of aid.”

The Prime Minister stressed, “Many countries have contacted us in order to strengthen efforts to contain the conflict
and prevent its expansion, but they are consistent with the violations of the occupation when it attacks some countries in the region and works to expand the conflict. We must first seek a ceasefire, and then work seriously to restore the rights of the Palestinians people, to have their own independent state with al-Quds as its capital, and we must support the existence of the Palestinian state, and urge all countries of the world to follow this step, and we applaud the decision of Norway, Spain, and Ireland.

Al-Sudani said: We salute the (UNRWA) for its role in alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people. The scale of crimes and atrocities that occurred against civilians have damaged the credibility of international laws and the international system, and stripped confidence from it. We were shocked by the way the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court were dealt with, and contempt by major powers.

In conclusion, he said: ‘We look forward to the practical results of this
conference in mobilizing support, delivering urgent humanitarian aid in a coordinated manner, and global and popular mobilization to expand recognition of the Palestinian state.’

Source: National Iraqi News Agency