Emir of Qatar is first head of state to visit Gaza

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Mohammed Abed / Pool via ReutersHamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh welcomes the Emir of Qatar Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, right, to Gaza at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Oct. 23.By NBC News staff and wire servicesDUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The Emir of Qatar arrived on Tuesday in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, becoming the first head of state to visit the area since Egypt and Israel launched a blockade of the Palestinian enclave in 2007, and breaking the isolation of its Iran-backed rulers.

Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, welcomed with a red carpet, who has led Arab efforts to support rebels in Syria and Libya during Arab Spring revolts, left Doha with a large delegation including his wife Sheikh Moza, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim and other ministers, the official Qatar News Agency reported.

"This visit has great political significance," said Hamas government spokesman Taher al-Nunu, according to AlJazeera.com. "He is the first Arab leader to break the political siege."

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