RAFAH: The Emir of Qatar entered the Gaza Strip on Tuesday for a visit that broke the isolation of it Islamic rulers, Hamas, but disappointed Israel and mainstream Palestinian leaders in the West Bank.

Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani crossed into Gaza from Egypt at the head of a large delegation on what is billed as a humanitarian visit to inaugurate reconstruction projects.

It was the first trip by a head of state to Gaza since 1999 and the emir was given a red-carpet welcome by Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, who declared it a historic day for the enclave, which backs on to the Mediterranean sea.

The Western-backed Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas’s arch-rival, said it hoped the visit would not undermine efforts to rebuild Palestinian unity or signal approval for a separate Palestinian territory.

The emir and his large delegation were greeted by a Hamas honour guard and Palestinian and Qatari flags decorated the route on the main road north to the city of Gaza, a key highway that Qatar will rebuild.

The emir was due to make a public appearance in one of Gaza’s largest soccer stadiums, and security arrangements have been in place for days ahead of the visit, seen by Hamas as a victory after five years of isolation.

Western-allied Gulf Arab states are trying to lure Hamas away from its alliance with Iran, whose nuclear energy programme has raised the prospect of a war with Israel.

Qatar’s emir has met Israeli leaders in the past and is working hard to boost the diplomatic clout of his small country.

He has also previously sought to mediate between Hamas and Fatah to end the divisions that have weakened the Palestinian cause.

Hamas says his trip would mark the beginning of the end of Israel’s blockade policy.

Investment increased to $400 million

“The emir agreed to increase Qatari investment from $254 million to $400 million,” prime minister Ismail Haniyeh said Tuesday during a press conference in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza to mark the emir’s visit.

The aim of the Qatari leader’s visit was to inaugurate a $254 million investment project to rebuild the impoverished Gaza Strip which sustained major damage during a 22-day Israeli operation that began in late December 2008.

The project will include the construction of roads, housing and infrastructure, as well as agricultural development, officials said.

Haniyeh hailed the top-level visit as a “victory” over the political and economic siege on his government.

“You are officially declaring the end of the political and economic blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip by the forces of injustice and tyranny,” he told the emir.

His remarks referred to the political boycott of his government as well as the Israeli-imposed blockade, in place since 2006, that prevents Palestinians from bringing construction materials into the territory.

“Today we demolish the wall of the blockade through this visit, thank you Qatar,” he said.

Qatar taking sides: Israel

An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman said it was “astounding” that Qatar was taking sides, noting that the emir “has never dignified the PA with a visit”.

Hamas seized control of the enclave in 2007 after a brief battle with the armed wing of Abbas’ Fatah movement. It refuses to recognise Israel and is ostracised by the West as a terrorist organisation.

Haniyeh denies Hamas is seeking to create its own state in the tiny enclave, which is under partial blockade by Israel, with Egypt helping to enforce the Jewish states’ restrictions.

His visit coincided with another round in the low-level conflict between Israel and Hamas. An Israeli officer was badly injured by an explosion on the Gaza border and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised a “strong response”, which often comes in the form of Israeli air strikes.