Following the passing of Qatar’s Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on Sunday, his solidarity with the Palestinian people remains one of the defining legacies of his leadership.

Sheikh Hamad is remembered not only as a regional statesman but also as the only Arab leader to physically break the crippling siege on the Gaza Strip. In October 2012, six years after Israel imposed an international blockade on Gaza following the 2006 Palestinian elections, Sheikh Hamad visited the embattled territory. Accompanied by his wife, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, and a high-level delegation, he bypassed the political isolation imposed by Western powers and regional actors, receiving a massive official and popular reception.

“He was the first Arab and Muslim leader to visit Gaza, standing by its side with chivalry and magnanimity, as if officially announcing the breaking of the siege in its darkest circumstances,” Meshaal told Al Jazeera. “He was intelligent, brave and a man of principles.”

Ahmed al-Sheikh, a senior journalist and former news director at Al Jazeera Arabic Channel, said the Father Emir had “a special kind of love for Palestine.” During the landmark visit, Sheikh Hamad announced an increase in Qatar’s reconstruction grant to Gaza from $254 million to $400 million, supporting vital housing, infrastructure, and healthcare projects benefiting thousands of Palestinians.

In 1999, Sheikh Hamad became the first Gulf leader to visit the Palestinian territories since 1967, meeting with the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat during a critical political impasse. His connection to Palestine was also marked by regret that he had never visited Jerusalem before its occupation in 1967, which led him to commission an extensive three-hour documentary on the holy city to capture its history and identity.

During Israel’s devastating 2008–2009 war on Gaza, deep divisions emerged among Gulf Cooperation Council members over how to respond to the crisis.

Sheikh Hamad’s legacy continues to be defined by his steadfast support for the Palestinian cause and his courageous actions that challenged the siege on Gaza.

Sources