Palestinian Ambassador to Iraq Ahmad al-Ruwaydi pledged to open an embassy in the "Palestinian capital Jerusalem" as Iraq laid the foundation stone for the Palestinian ambassador's residence in Baghdad on October 24, Shafaq News reported.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein placed the foundation stone for the residence in the capital Baghdad with al-Ruwaydi in attendance as part of a city redevelopment plan.

The outright public rejection of Israel by Iraq and other Persian Gulf countries is part of growing confidence that Tel Aviv has lost the military and public high ground with global audiences. The overt support for Palestinian sovereignty of Jerusalem (Al Quds, "The Holy" in Arabic) comes as other Gulf countries continue to support people in Gaza, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia.   

Hussein said at a joint press conference following the ceremony that the area where the foundation stone was placed is vital and will include embassies and missions for several other countries.

"Iraq is one of the supporters of the Palestinian cause, and our movements throughout the previous period have been within the framework of diplomacy, working to stop the war, sending aid to the sector, promoting stability and peace, and allowing the Palestinian people to determine their own fate," Hussein said, Dijlah News recorded him as saying.

The Iraqi Foreign Minister thanked the Palestinian ambassador on the occasion of the end of his work duties for his efforts in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

The new Palestinian ambassador's residence building is located within the diplomatic quarter in Baghdad, where work began at the end of October 2024. The quarter covers approximately 78 plots, with 40 plots already occupied by embassies of some countries operating in Iraq.

Iraq has consistently refused to recognise Israel and participated in the 1948, 1967, and 1973 Arab-Israeli wars against it. In a strange situation, Iraq was the only Arab country that did not sign the 1949 ceasefire agreement, meaning the two nations remain technically in a state of war.

Hussein said the project represents an important step reflecting the Iraqi government's efforts to provide a modern and safe working environment for embassies accredited in Iraq, and embodies the Foreign Ministry's commitment to developing the infrastructure of Iraqi diplomacy and making it more organised and effective to serve the country's interests, according to the statement.

Hussein also laid the foundation stone for the rehabilitation and development project of the quarter on October 24. He said the project represents an important step reflecting the Iraqi government's efforts in providing a modern and safe working environment for embassies accredited in Iraq.

In the recent Hamas-Israel war, Iraqi paramilitary groups aligned with Iran used Iraqi territory to fire rockets and drones towards Israel and Palestine. 

In May 2022, Iraq's parliament passed a law criminalising normalisation with Israel, known as the "Criminalising Normalisation and Establishment of Relations with the Zionist Entity" law.