Sudani “will begin a regional tour on Monday regarding developments in Gaza, starting in Tehran and followed by Gulf capitals,” a source told Iraqi state media on Sunday.
Relentless Israeli airstrikes have pounded Gaza in retaliation for a surprise attack by Palestinian Hamas militants on October 7. The strikes have left 9,770 dead, including scores of women and children, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
On Saturday, Sudani said that the “massacres” committed by Israel in Gaza “confirm the failure of the international community to perform its role” at a Baghdad conference.
“Our clear position is the necessity of stopping the aggression, and preventing the region from sliding into a war,” he said. “Whoever is keen for this not to happen must work for an immediate ceasefire.”
The war in Gaza has sparked sympathy across the Arab world where the Palestinian cause has widespread support. At a peace summit in Egypt last week, Sudani criticized global failure to support human rights and justice in the conflict. “Palestine stands as a living testament for this recurring failure,” he said.
In an op-ed in The Guardian on Saturday, Sudani referred the events in Gaza to those of crisis-hit Iraq over the past decades.
“Few countries have endured the suffering and conflict that Iraq has experienced over the past 50 years. The tragic events in Gaza bring back painful memories for the Iraqi people. Red lines have been crossed, with civilians enduring unimaginable suffering, and as a result there is an urgent need for critical humanitarian assistance,” he wrote.
On Monday, Sudani’s military spokesperson said Baghdad was preparing to send a second aid package to Gaza, mainly consisting of medical equipment.
