Al-Nujaba Movement Threatens Retaliation Against Countries That Normalize Relations With Israel

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On April 29, 2022, the Iran-backed, Iraqi Shi'ite Al-Nujaba Movement posted an official statement on its Telegram channel to mark Qods Day,[1] in which it asserts that the issue of "occupied Palestine" pertains to the entire ummah (Islamic nation) and that "the stolen rights will be restored by force." The group stresses that it operates in coordination with the other "the Islamic resistance movements" in the region; condemns the countries in the region which are working to normalize their relations with Israel, such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE; and threatens, "Our arms which battled the [American] occupier are also capable of battling those who seek to normalize relations [with Israel]."[2]

In its statement Al-Nujaba asserts that, "The embers of the important issues cannot be extinguished or forgotten, and the issue of occupied Palestine is one of these." It declares that, "The land of Palestine will remain with its people and its identity will remain Islamic forever," and adds that, "The stolen rights will be restored by force, and surrender and disregard are no longer options. This is despite the fact that there are those who have chosen humiliation, betrayal of the ummah and the repudiation of honor, among those who fly the flag of normalization [with Israel]; the injury and killing of the Palestinian people in the shadow of an international community which collaborates [with Israel] and an international system which surrenders to the arrogant and sides with the patronizing."

The Al-Nujaba Movement claims that it "operates in determination and ongoing coordination with the other Islamic resistance movements in the region, stands prepared as it faces the oppressive Zionist entity and ready to behave in a manner which will achieve the goals and fulfil the true promise from Allah. Al-Qods Day is a divine, pure project which instills in the Palestinian issue a willingness for confrontation."

In conclusion, the movement reiterates its position against, "the normalization schemes led by several of the disgraceful countries in the region which try to ignite the inner [arena] in Iraq as part of their plot to lengthen the lifespan of the oppressive entity." Furthermore, it threatens that, "Our arms which battled the [American] occupier are also capable of battling those who seek to normalize relations [with Israel], whoever they may be, and they are also weaker."

It should be noted that as is the case every year, Qods Day is sparking similar reactions from additional pro-Iranian elements in Iraq. For example, Abu Ali Al-Askari, a senior commander of the Iran-backed Kata'ib Hizbullah militia in Iraq, urged the supporters of the axis of resistance to demonstrate their solidarity with the Palestine people by observing Qods Day.[3]