The death of the Father Emir, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, at the age of 74, marks the end of an era in the Middle East. It is hard to think of a single Arab leader since the 1990s who has reshaped his country so dramatically. When he came to power in a bloodless coup against his father in 1995, Qatar was a small Gulf state, wealthy but relatively marginal. When he handed over power to his son, Tamim, in 2013, it was already a global gas powerhouse, one of the richest countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita, an international mediator, and a nation possessing regional and international influence far exceeding its size.
His greatest achievement was identifying the strategic potential inherent in Qatar's gas reserves and turning them into an engine of national power. The investment in the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) industry granted Qatar immense wealth, enabling it to conduct an independent and ambitious foreign policy. Through its sovereign wealth fund, massive global investments, and active diplomacy, Qatar transformed from a marginal actor into a central regional and international player.
Hamad understood that power is not measured solely in money, but also in influence. The establishment of Al Jazeera in 1996 turned Qatar into a media empire, and subsequently into a mediation powerhouse, maintaining communication channels with almost every player in the Middle East – from the United States to Iran, and from Israel to Hamas.
From Israel's perspective, his legacy is complex. During his tenure, official channels of communication were opened with Israel, the Israeli mission in Doha was established, and economic collaborations took place. Simultaneously, however, he laid the foundations for a policy that made Qatar the central patron of Hamas and the most influential force in Arab discourse through Al Jazeera, which for years adopted a critical and sometimes even inciting tone towards Israel. For him, there was no contradiction: Qatar sought to talk to everyone, thereby positioning itself as an indispensable mediator that cannot be bypassed.
Despite his immense influence, his death is not expected to bring about a change in Qatari policy. Although Hamad continued to exert influence even after transferring power to his son, the strategy he built has already been deeply embedded within the state's institutions. Emir Tamim continues the outlines drawn by his father almost unchanged: reliance on gas power, regional mediation, a close alliance with the United States alongside ties with Iran—driven by apprehension—and preserving Qatar's relations with Hamas, mainly as a way to influence the Palestinian arena and gain political points.
The death of Hamad bin Khalifa does not signal a change of direction for Qatar. It marks the passing of the man who shaped its strategic identity. The Qatar of today – with its achievements, its aspirations, and its complex relations with Israel – is largely his creation. Anyone expecting his death to bring about a change in its policy toward Israel is bound to be disappointed. Qatari policy, for better and mainly for worse, is expected to continue.
The death of the Father Emir, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, at the age of 74, marks the end of an era in the Middle East. It is hard to think of a single Arab leader since the 1990s who has reshaped his country so dramatically. When he came to power in a bloodless coup against his father in 1995, Qatar was a small Gulf state, wealthy but relatively marginal. When he handed over power to his son, Tamim, in 2013, it was already a global gas powerhouse, one of the richest countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita, an international mediator, and a nation possessing regional and international influence far exceeding its size.
His greatest achievement was identifying the strategic potential inherent in Qatar's gas reserves and turning them into an engine of national power. The investment in the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) industry granted Qatar immense wealth, enabling it to conduct an independent and ambitious foreign policy. Through its sovereign wealth fund, massive global investments, and active diplomacy, Qatar transformed from a marginal actor into a central regional and international player.
Hamad understood that power is not measured solely in money, but also in influence. The establishment of Al Jazeera in 1996 turned Qatar into a media empire, and subsequently into a mediation powerhouse, maintaining communication channels with almost every player in the Middle East – from the United States to Iran, and from Israel to Hamas.
From Israel's perspective, his legacy is complex. During his tenure, official channels of communication were opened with Israel, the Israeli mission in Doha was established, and economic collaborations took place. Simultaneously, however, he laid the foundations for a policy that made Qatar the central patron of Hamas and the most influential force in Arab discourse through Al Jazeera, which for years adopted a critical and sometimes even inciting tone towards Israel. For him, there was no contradiction: Qatar sought to talk to everyone, thereby positioning itself as an indispensable mediator that cannot be bypassed.
Despite his immense influence, his death is not expected to bring about a change in Qatari policy. Although Hamad continued to exert influence even after transferring power to his son, the strategy he built has already been deeply embedded within the state's institutions. Emir Tamim continues the outlines drawn by his father almost unchanged: reliance on gas power, regional mediation, a close alliance with the United States alongside ties with Iran—driven by apprehension—and preserving Qatar's relations with Hamas, mainly as a way to influence the Palestinian arena and gain political points.
The death of Hamad bin Khalifa does not signal a change of direction for Qatar. It marks the passing of the man who shaped its strategic identity. The Qatar of today – with its achievements, its aspirations, and its complex relations with Israel – is largely his creation. Anyone expecting his death to bring about a change in its policy toward Israel is bound to be disappointed. Qatari policy, for better and mainly for worse, is expected to continue.