A delegation from the leadership of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, headed by its Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhalah, met on Friday with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.

During the meetings, al-Nakhalah offered a thorough explanation of the developments in Palestine, in particular, Israeli practices against the Palestinian people in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Al-Quds, and across the entire occupied Palestinian territory.

Al-Nakhalah briefed both the President of the Republic of Iraq and the Prime Minister on the evolution of the capacity of the Palestinian Resistance and its readiness to defend its people.

The PIJ leader said that he valued Iraq's "historic and current position in defending the rights and non-negotiables of the Palestinian people", considering that "a strong, independent and united Iraq with its various components is a force for Palestine and its resistance".

For his part, Rashid welcomed the visit of the PIJ delegation to Iraq, and expressed his pride in this visit, noting that "the issue of Al-Quds is not only a Palestinian issue but a humanitarian issue."

The Iraqi President also condemned the "repression, persecution, and killing of innocent people" by the Israeli occupation, and acknowledged the role played by the PIJ in defending the Palestinian people. Moreover, the President praised the heroics of the resistance fighters stationed at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Referring to the importance of the unity of the Palestinian people in their ongoing struggle, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid stressed his "support for the Palestinian people" during every summit and gathering and reaffirmed Iraq's standing with the leadership and people of the Palestinian people in their endeavor to regain their full rights and freedom and establish a Palestinian State with Al-Quds as its capital.

In turn, the Iraqi Prime Minister said that "despite all efforts made to deflect Iraq from the issues of the Arab nation, the Iraqi State and its political and societal forces have now regained their strength and unity," and reaffirmed that they "have not abandoned the Palestinian cause as they remain eager to support the resistance in all its forms."

Al-Sudani asserted that Iraq has blocked attempts by Arab and international bodies to pass normalization projects, adding that "the Iraqi Parliament has passed a law criminalizing normalization" and condemning the double standards invoked by some international bodies, regarding Palestinian rights.

Iraq visit conveys a strong message to 'Israel': Al-Nakhalah

PIJ Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhalah told Al Mayadeen on Thursday that the significance of the movement's visit to Iraq is that it comes as a response to the Israeli attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque.

This comes as a delegation of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement visits Baghdad at the invitation of top Iraqi officials.

"The presence of the Islamic Jihad in Iraq is a strong message that carries clear implications in terms of Iraq's position in support of our people and their resistance," al-Nakhalah added.

The top Palestinian figure acknowledged that "the visit is a clear message that Iraq stands with the Palestinian people and their resistance," stressing that Baghdad "is also highly influential in the region and carries a strong message to Israel regarding Iraq's support for Palestine."

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