Qatar Archives - CrossFireArarbia

Gaza Pays Tribute to Late Arab Prince

CrossFireArabia
July 12, 2026

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the ex-Emir of Qatar, was not only associated with the transformation and modernization of the country, but also with the political and humanitarian stances he took on the Palestinian cause, and particularly the Gaza Strip. During his reign, he took steps to support the residents of Gaza and contribute to reconstruction and development projects, amidst the difficult humanitarian and economic conditions imposed by the blockade Israel imposed on the Strip and its repeated attacks.

Prominent Stances in the 2009 War on Gaza

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani’s position became prominent during the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip in 2008-2009, when the emergency Arab summit called for by Qatar in Doha failed to convene due to a lack of quorum.

In a speech he delivered at the time, the Emir of Qatar expressed his displeasure at the absence of some Arab states from the summit, at a time when Gaza was under bombardment. His well-known phrase, “No sooner is the quorum for the Arab summit reached than it is lost. God is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs,” will be best remembered.

The speech at the time represented a significant political stance, reflecting Qatar’s call for Arab action regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip, amidst escalating Arab and international criticism of the Israeli aggression.

A Historic Visit and Gaza Reconstruction Projects

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani gained a special place among Palestinians, particularly in the Gaza Strip, following his historic visit to the Strip in October 2012. He was the first Arab leader to visit Gaza since the imposition of the Israeli blockade.

Sheikh Hamad arrived in the Strip at the head of a high-level Qatari delegation that included the then Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani. He was greeted by a wide-ranging official and popular Palestinian reception, including the then Prime Minister of Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, and a number of officials and leaders of Palestinian factions.

During the visit, Sheikh Hamad called for the implementation of Arab and international resolutions concerning the reconstruction of Gaza, emphasizing that the continued blockade and settlement activity were preventing a just solution to the Palestinian issue.

The visit witnessed the inauguration of several Qatari projects, part of a program to rebuild the Gaza Strip after the devastation caused by the 2008 Israeli war. The most prominent of these was the Sheikh Hamad Housing City in Khan Younis, which provided thousands of housing units for Palestinian families.

The Qatari grant for Gaza’s reconstruction at that time amounted to approximately $254 million, of which about $140 million was allocated to road and infrastructure projects, and $62 million to the construction of the Sheikh Hamad Housing City. The grant also funded health and agricultural projects, including the establishment of a hospital for prosthetics and rehabilitation.

The projects also included paving roads, developing infrastructure, and establishing health facilities, all aimed at supporting vital sectors and alleviating the burdens faced by the residents of the Gaza Strip.

A Legacy Emerging in Palestinian Memory

Following the announcement of the death of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on Sunday, many Palestinians recalled his stances toward Gaza, emphasizing that his support for the Strip and the reconstruction projects he launched had a profound impact on the population.

Researcher Ali Abu Rizq wrote on his X-linked account: “May God have mercy on the only Arab prince who visited Gaza, supported its people, and stood with its cause during the most difficult years of its siege. May God have mercy on the owner of Hamad City, which was a generous refuge for thousands in Gaza.”

Researcher Adham Abu Salmiya also wrote on his X-linked account that Sheikh Hamad “loved Palestine, and Palestine loved him in return. He championed its cause and stood with Gaza during the height of the siege. His honorable stances will never be forgotten.”

Journalist Mohammed Haniyeh noted on his X-linked account that Sheikh Hamad had a firm stance regarding Gaza during difficult times, recalling his call for an Arab summit during the 2009 war and his supportive positions towards the Strip under the siege as reported by Quds Press.

Culture

Youngest Palestinian Doctor Gets Guinness

CrossFireArabia
June 22, 2026

Palestinian doctor Iqbal Al-Asaad has entered the Guinness World Records after graduating from medical school, earning her second world record after being named the youngest university student. At the age of 13, she enrolled at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, completing her previous studies in the Bekaa Valley with distinction, thus rightfully earning the title of the world’s youngest doctor.

Middle East at War

CrossFireArabia
February 28, 2026

News

Israel Cannot Annex West Bank Says VP Vance

CrossFireArabia
October 24, 2025

US Vice President JD Vance rejected Israel’s proposed annexation of the West Bank as a “stupid political stunt,” reaffirming Washington’s opposition to unilateral actions and commitment to the Gaza ceasefire.

US Vice President JD Vance delivered a sharp rebuke to Israeli lawmakers on Thursday, explicitly rejecting any annexation of the West Bank and characterizing the recent Knesset vote on the matter as “a stupid political stunt.”

Speaking to reporters in Tel Aviv, Vance left no ambiguity about the Trump administration’s position regarding the occupied Palestinian territory.

Clear US Policy Statement

“If it was a political stunt, it was a very stupid political stunt, and I personally take some insult to it,” Vance said regarding the Knesset’s preliminary approval of a bill to impose Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank.

https://www.palestinechronicle.com/israeli-knesset-approves-preliminary-reading-of-bill-to-annex-west-bank/embed/#?secret=OBbWh2L4xb#?secret=TLEUEm5JV2

He then delivered the administration’s definitive position: “The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel. The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel. That will continue to be our policy.”

Vance’s remarks came a day after the Knesset approved, by a vote of 25 to 24, a bill to impose Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir welcomed the vote, saying: “The time to impose sovereignty over the West Bank has come now.”

Meanwhile, the Likud party, which leads the ruling coalition, described the bill as “showy” and damaging to relations with Washington.

The US Vice President said that such unilateral steps “contradict Israel’s commitments to the peace process and international agreements,” and reiterated that Washington’s message to Israel was clear: The need to maintain the Gaza ceasefire and avoid any action that could reignite tensions.

‘Despite Exceptions’

Vance also addressed the situation in Gaza, affirming that both Hamas and Israel are respecting the ceasefire “despite some exceptions.”

He made clear that “the United States would not deploy American soldiers in the Gaza Strip,” reaffirming Washington’s commitment to maintaining the ceasefire and advancing reconstruction.

According to Vance, reconstruction efforts would begin in areas “free of Hamas,” but he cautioned that it was still too early to launch large-scale rebuilding. He added that the United States hoped to see the reconstruction of Rafah “within two or three years.”

On October 9, Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire and prisoner exchange following indirect negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh under US sponsorship and mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and Turkiye according to The Palestine Chronicle.

News

Erdogan: ‘Netanyahu is Like a Relative of Hitler’

CrossFireArabia
September 16, 2025

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lambasted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday for Israel’s attack on the Hamas negotiation team in Qatar last week, saying, “Ideologically, Netanyahu is like a relative of Hitler.”

“Just as Hitler could not foresee the defeat that awaited him, Netanyahu will face the same ultimate fate,” he added while returning from Doha, where he attended an emergency Arab-Islamic summit following the Israeli airstrike according to Anadolu.

Erdogan called the attack on the Hamas negotiation team “a blatant challenge to international order and international law” and said Israel’s leadership has “turned their radical mindset into nothing more than a murderous network built on fascist ideology.”

The Turkish president also addressed Western countries’ recognition of Palestine, saying it would put further pressure on Israel and pledging to raise the issue again at the United Nations.

He expressed hope that “the front of humanity will gain broader support” at the upcoming UN General Assembly.

Lastly, Erdogan also addressed Türkiye’s diplomacy in Libya, emphasizing the protection of the country’s sovereignty and unity. “We are committed to safeguarding Libya’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political unity, and all our actions are guided by these objectives,” he said.

He noted that Türkiye has supported the legitimate Tripoli government from the outset, while recent policies have also sought to open diplomatic channels with eastern Libya. “This reflects Türkiye’s multidimensional diplomatic efforts, regional vision, and commitment to achieving peace,” Erdogan said.

He added that the Benghazi administration’s approval of the maritime jurisdiction agreement signed between Türkiye and Tripoli would be a “significant gain under international law.”