Capitals, July 15 (QNA) – Arab and international media figures and writers have praised the legacy of the late HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, may Allah have mercy on him, and commended his pivotal role in building modern Qatar and consolidating its regional and international standing, as well as lauded his experience in developing a foreign policy based on mediation, openness, and strengthening its diplomatic and economic presence.

They noted that HH the Father Amir led Qatar’s transformation and contributed to developing its political, economic, and diplomatic capabilities, making it an influential player on both the Arab and international stages.

In this context, Palestinian writer and political analyst Ibrahim Al Madhoun said that HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani holds a special place in the hearts of Palestinians for his political and humanitarian support of the Palestinian cause during what he described as critical and dangerous periods.

During an interview with Al Mayadeen TV, Al Madhoun added that Palestinians hold HH the Father Amir in high esteem and deep affection, noting that one of the most prominent examples of this was during the siege of the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, when HH the Father Amir maintained contact with him and provided political and moral support.

Al Madhoun added that HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa played a prominent role during the 2008-2009 war on Gaza, through his political stances and by hosting the emergency Arab summit at the time, in addition to his contribution to mobilizing Arab and international support for the Palestinian cause.

For his part, Iraqi academic Adel Al Ghurairi stated that the passing of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani represents a loss of a figure who played a pivotal role in building the modern state, adding that Qatari policy over the past decades has relied on employing soft power and building a broad network of diplomatic relations with various regional and international parties, which enabled Doha to play mediating roles and reduce tensions in several crises.

He added that Qatar has played a prominent role in supporting Arab causes, foremost among them the Palestinian cause. It also contributed to the reconstruction of Lebanon following the 2006 war, in addition to its participation in mediation efforts on numerous regional and international issues.

He considered Qatar’s policy, based on balance, openness, and dialogue, to be a model that can contribute to strengthening regional stability and reducing the risks of escalation.

Mahmoud Alloush, a researcher at the Policy Analysis Centre, stated that Qatar as a modern and contemporary state that has achieved a remarkable renaissance over the past decades would be incomplete without mentioning HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, who left a clear mark on the major transformations the country has witnessed on the economic and political levels.

Speaking to France 24 TV channel, Alloush added that HH the Father Amir succeeded in transforming Qatar from a small state into one with an active and influential presence among the regional powers that have contributed to shaping the political landscape in the region over the past decades.

In an article in the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Qabas, writer Dr. Abdulhamid Al Shayji wrote that the State of Qatar and the Gulf nation have lost one of their statesmen who left a prominent mark on modern Qatar’s history with the passing of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

He noted that HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani represented a significant era in modern Qatar’s history, during which the country witnessed major transformations in the fields of development, economy, education, and consolidation of its regional and international presence, while maintaining its deep-rooted Gulf identity and fraternal relations with its brothers.

In an article published in the Kuwaiti newspaper Alrai, writer Abdulrahman Al Otaibi highlighted the role and stature of HH the Father Amir. With his passing, the State of Qatar and the Arabian Gulf have lost one of their statesmen whose names are linked to pivotal moments in the region’s history, and who contributed to shaping a new phase in the journey of development and modernization.

During his reign, he noted, major modernization projects were launched, and the media presence was strengthened with the launch of Al Jazeera, which became one of the most influential media institutions in the Arab world.

Qatar also witnessed a comprehensive renaissance in infrastructure, culture, economy, and sports, becoming a model of rapid achievement and sound planning. This culminated in hosting the World Cup, an unprecedented and historic achievement.

He emphasized that the greatness of people is not measured by the years they live, but by the national legacy they leave behind, the visions they cultivate that become reality, and the institutions that stand as testaments to their contributions. The Father Amir will forever remain in the memory of his nation and people, and in the memory of all who followed with admiration the transformations that the State of Qatar witnessed during his reign.

In an article published in Oman’s Alroya Newspaper, Omani writer Nasser Al Abri said that the legacy of great historical figures remains even after their passing, leaving behind their achievements as testimony of their lives devoted to their nations and their conviction that investing in the human being is the best path to building one’s country.

Among these great figures is HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, whose reign was one of the most significant transformative periods in Qatar’s history, so much so that the country’s development experience during that period become a case study worthy of appreciation, he added.

The passing of HH the Father Amir is not merely a Qatari event, rather, it is an occasion for the people of the Gulf and the Arab world to reflect on the legacy of a leader who possessed a far-reaching vision, succeeded in turning aspirations into reality, and laid the foundations for the comprehensive development that turned Qatar into an influential country politically, economically, and culturally at both the regional and international levels, Al Abri said.

HH the Father Amir believed that true wealth was not only based on natural resources, but that it also included their sound management and using these natural resources to serve the people, the Omani writer said. Based on that vision, His Highness led a comprehensive national project that invested energy revenues in building schools, universities, hospitals, research centers, and modern infrastructure.

Investing in human development became a defining hallmark of HH the Father Amir’s reign whose impact extended across every sector of Qatar, Al Abri highlighted.

Under HH the Father Amir, the State of Qatar became a scientific and cultural hub that attracted leading global academic institutions and embraced the role of knowledge in advancing comprehensive development, he added.

In an article published in Lebanon’s Annahar newspaper, Lebanese journalist Nader Ezzeddine said that during HH the Father Amir’s reign, Qatar led mediation efforts involving Lebanon, Sudan, Palestine, and Yemen.

The State of Qatar hosted conferences, negotiations, and diplomatic initiatives, with mediation becoming one of the defining features of Qatari foreign policy as well as a means of strengthening the country’s security by making it a sought-after party in crisis management, Ezzeddine added.

The Lebanese journalist reviewed a number of HH the Father Amir’s achievements across various fields, including sports, education, and the economy.

He noted that education was one of the central pillars of His Highness’ initiatives through the establishment of Education City, which attracted branch campuses of international universities and provided students from Qatar and the wider region with the opportunity to study at world-class institutions in Doha. 

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