Qatari Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani yesterday/ on Tuesday paid an historic visit to the Gaza Strip, which is under Hamas full control, to foster greater investment in the area’s reconstruction.

The image of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, adorns a barrier in Gaza City, the day before his visit to the area (photo: AFP)

The Emir agreed to add 400 million USD to Qatar’s current 254 million USD investment in Gaza. He attended a ground-breaking ceremony for a housing complex of 3,000 houses in the southern city of Khan Yuni, a Qatar-funded project.

The emir is the first head of state to enter the Gaza Strip since Hamas seized power in 2007. Residents of this narrow strip are suffering under economic sanctions by Israel. Israel carried out a 22-day military offensive against Gaza in late 2008.