An award ceremony was held at the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, for the Palestinian search and rescue team working in earthquake zones in Turkey and Syria.
At the ceremony attended by Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, Palestinian Interior Minister Ziyad Heb er-Rih and Turkey’s Consul General to Palestine Ambassador Ahmet Rıza Demirer, the Palestinian search and rescue team was awarded a certificate of honor and a medal.
Speaking at the ceremony, Foreign Minister Maliki, addressing the search and rescue team, said, “Your responsibility was at the highest level. You are the good ambassadors of Palestine, you represented your people in the best possible way.” used the phrases.
Interior Minister Rih said that Palestine is ready to support all kinds of humanitarian aid efforts in the world and this situation strengthens Palestine’s prestige at the regional and international level.
Palestine stood by Turkey despite the occupation and limited opportunities
Ambassador Demirer, on the other hand, expressed Turkey’s appreciation for the support given to Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas for the aid efforts for the Turkish people.
Expressing his thanks to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the Palestinian Presidency and its people, Demirer said, “Turkey does not distinguish between the peoples of the region. Palestine’s assistance is very important to us.” used the phrases.
Pointing out that Palestine was with Turkey when it was under occupation and with limited opportunities, Demirer said, “When the Palestinian search and rescue team was in Turkey, painful things were happening in Palestine. Just like in Nablus.” said.
On February 22, Israeli forces raided the city of Nablus, located in the north of the occupied West Bank, from several points, killing 11 Palestinians, including a child and two elderly, and wounding more than 100 Palestinians, 6 of them seriously.
Palestine’s support to Turkey in the earthquake
A 73-person Palestinian support and aid team of the Palestinian Red Crescent, consisting of doctors, paramedics and civil defense personnel, left Ramallah on February 9 to go to the earthquake zone in Turkey and Syria.
Palestinian Minister of Foundations and Religious Affairs, Hatem al-Bekri, said in a statement on February 11 that the aid collected for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria after Friday prayers in mosques in the occupied West Bank reached approximately 1 million dollars.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foundations also announced that 20 thousand sleeping bags would be sent to Turkey for those affected by the earthquakes.