On 17 November 2014, the Thai delegation led by H.E. Mr. Piriya Khempon, Ambassador of Thailand to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, paid a visit to Ramallah, State of Palestine, to deliver 100,000 US dollars contribution from the Royal Thai Government to the Palestine Red Crescent Society in response to humanitarian situation in Gaza where hostilities occurred in July-August 2014 leading to more than 2,000 civilian casualties.   

     
The Thai delegation called on Dr. Younis Al-Khatib, President of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, to inform of the delivery of the contribution and that Thailand has been following the situation in Gaza with deep concern on humanitarian repercussion.  In response, the Royal Thai Government has decided to make additional humanitarian contribution to help ease an ordeal of the people in Gaza, apart from the 100,000 US dollars contribution made earlier to the United Nations Works and Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

President of the Palestine Red Crescent Society expressed his gratitude to the Royal Thai Government and the people of Thailand.  He assured that Thai contribution will be put in good use for supporting the needs of the people in Gaza.  He also stated that Gaza still needs tremendous assistance in all forms, such as food, medicine, medical equipments, temporary shelters, and reconstruction of schools, hospitals and infrastructures which were severely damaged during the fighting.

The Thai delegation also paid courtesy calls on Dr. Majdi Al-Khaldi, Diplomatic Adviser to the President of Palestine, and Dr. Mazen Shamiyah, Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine for Asia, Africa, and Australia.  The Palestinian side expressed enthusiasm to strengthen relations with Thailand and promote bilateral cooperation in various fields.

On this occasion, the Thai delegation reaffirmed Thailand’s resolve to support  Palestinian rights and to urge all stakeholders to return to the negotiating table in order to achieve a peaceful solution in the Middle East and the two-State solution.  Thailand is ready to render development cooperation to Palestine in fields which Thailand has high level of expertise, such as tourism development and management, training programmes for capacity-building and technical cooperation.

Note: The Royal Thai Embassy in Amman, Jordan, has been assigned as the Thai side’s contact point for the State of Palestine since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the State of Palestine on 1 August 2012, until the formal appointment of Ambassador of Thailand to Palestine in the near future.