Sheikh Hamad: The Arab leader who broke Israel’s siege on Gaza

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Emir of Qatar who died on July 12, 2026, is remembered as a steadfast ally of the Palestinian people. In October 2012, he became the only Arab leader to physically break Israel's crippling siege on the Gaza Strip by visiting the territory with his wife and a high-level delegation, receiving a massive official and popular reception.