NOVANEWS
By: Zeesh
Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has visited the Gaza Strip to inaugurate a project to rebuild the besieged territory.
Sheikh Hamad arrived in Gaza on Tuesday to become the first head of state to visit the strip since the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas took power in the territory five years ago.
He pledged $400 million for reconstruction projects, such as building housing complexes, and rehabilitating roads in the area. He also called on Palestinians to unite and resist against discord.
“It’s about time Palestinians turn over the page of division and open a new chapter for reconciliation and agreement, based on the agreements in Doha and Cairo, with sincere efforts from Palestinian president brother Mahmud Abbas and head of the Hamas political bureau Khaled Meshaal,” he said.
“Why are you staying divided? There are no peace negotiations, and there is no clear strategy of resistance and liberation. Why shouldn’t brothers sit together and reconcile?” he added.
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya said that the visit by the Qatari Emir showed that Gaza was “not alone,” noting that the trip had broken Israel’s economic and political blockade of Gaza.
Gaza has been blockaded since 2007, a situation that has caused a decline in the standard of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment, and unrelenting poverty.
The apartheid regime of Israel denies about 1.7 million people in Gaza their basic rights, such as freedom of movement, jobs that pay proper wages, and adequate healthcare and education.
