Gaza / Ramzi Mahmoud / Anadolu

Palestinians on Monday held mourning tents across the Gaza Strip over the death of former Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, in appreciation of his supportive stances toward them and his contribution to relief and reconstruction projects.

Tribal and popular events organized mourning tents 'in loyalty to the State of Qatar and its former emir,' while pictures of Sheikh Hamad and Qatari flags were raised amid scenes of destruction left by the Israeli genocide in the strip.

This comes a day after the funeral of the former emir in the Qatari capital Doha, where funeral prayers were performed at the Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque before he was laid to rest in Lusail Cemetery.

Deputy head of the Palestinian Tribal Gathering Nabil Abu Sariya said: 'We came today to offer our sincere condolences from all the people of Gaza to our brothers in the State of Qatar, government and people, as well as the ruling family, on the death of the father emir.'

He added, in an interview with Anadolu on the sidelines of the mourning tent: 'The late emir is the departed of the nation and Palestine, as he is the departed of the State of Qatar.'

He continued: 'This man supported the Palestinian cause in every international forum, stood by Gaza in times of hardship, and our people do not forget those who stood with him.'

Abu Sariya said: 'This is the only man, as a leader of an Arab or Islamic state, who visited Gaza in times of hardship (..) Our people have a strong memory, and they will not forget those who stood with him.'

He pointed out that the former emir supported the Gaza Strip with relief over the years, especially during 'the lean years that Gaza experienced under siege, and during periods of Israeli wars.'

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani visited the Gaza Strip in October 2012, the first visit by a leader of an Arab state to the strip since 2007, to inaugurate reconstruction projects funded by Qatar.

During the visit, Qatar raised the value of financing for reconstruction and development projects in Gaza from $250 million to $400 million, and included housing projects, roads, infrastructure, and service facilities.

Sheikh Hamad's visit to Gaza came under the Israeli siege imposed on the strip since 2007, and the resulting economic and humanitarian deterioration and extensive damage to infrastructure.