REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, GAZA - The emir of pro-Western Qatar will become the first head of state to enter the blockaded Gaza Strip on Tuesday. This is a high-profile visit breaking the isolation of the Iranian-backed Islamist movement Hamas that seized power in 2007.

Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani is officially visiting the Palestinian enclave to inaugurate reconstruction projects worth over 250 million USD, which an envoy of his oil-rich, conservative Arab emirate unveiled in Gaza last week. 

But his trip will be loaded with political symbolism. The emir will be the first foreign leader to go to Gaza under the rule of Hamas, a movement that is considered "militant" and outlawed by Israel. The West also considers Hamas as a terrorist organization, although its influence and aspirations in the Middle East conflict may be hard to ignore. 

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh issued a statement confirming the visit and urging "our people to express their good hospitality in welcoming the great visitor of Gaza". Security was already being reinforced in places where the emir is expected to make a stop on the way from the Egyptian land border crossing at Rafah. Gaza, under partial blockade by Israel and Egypt, has no airport or seaport.

Some Palestinians put up Qatari flags in the streets of Gaza city. Others attacked the visit on social networks, questioning Qatar's intentions. Some posted pictures on their Facebook pages of the emir side-by-side with Israeli President Shimon Peres.

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