Capitals, July 15 (QNA) - Arab and international media figures and writers have praised the legacy of the late HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, may Allah have mercy on him, and commended his pivotal role in building modern Qatar and consolidating its regional and international standing, as well as lauded his experience in developing a foreign policy based on mediation, openness, and strengthening its diplomatic and economic presence.
They noted that HH the Father Amir led Qatar's transformation and contributed to developing its political, economic, and diplomatic capabilities, making it an influential player on both the Arab and international stages.
In this context, Palestinian writer and political analyst Ibrahim Al Madhoun said that HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani holds a special place in the hearts of Palestinians for his political and humanitarian support of the Palestinian cause during what he described as critical and dangerous periods.
During an interview with Al Mayadeen TV, Al Madhoun added that Palestinians hold HH the Father Amir in high esteem and deep affection, noting that one of the most prominent examples of this was during the siege of the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, when HH the Father Amir maintained contact with him and provided political and moral support.
Al Madhoun added that HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa played a prominent role during the 2008-2009 war on Gaza, through his political stances and by hosting the emergency Arab summit at the time, in addition to his contribution to mobilizing Arab and international support for the Palestinian cause.
For his part, Iraqi academic Adel Al Ghurairi stated that the passing of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani represents a loss of a figure who played a pivotal role in building the modern state, adding that Qatari policy over the past decades has relied on employing soft power and building a broad network of diplomatic relations with various regional and international parties, which enabled Doha to play mediating roles and reduce tensions in several crises.
He added that Qatar has played a prominent role in supporting Arab causes, foremost among them the Palestinian cause. It also contributed to the reconstruction of Lebanon following the 2006 war, in addition to its participation in mediation efforts on numerous regional and international issues.
He considered Qatar's policy, based on balance, openness, and dialogue, to be a model that can contribute to strengthening regional stability and reducing the risks of escalation.
Mahmoud Alloush, a researcher at the Policy Analysis Centre, stated that Qatar as a modern and contemporary state that has achieved a remarkable renaissance over the past decades would be incomplete without mentioning HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, who left a clear mark on the major transformations the country has witnessed on the economic and political levels.
Speaking to France 24 TV channel, Alloush added that HH the Father Amir succeeded in transforming Qatar from a small state into one with an active and influential presence among the regional powers that have contributed to shaping the political landscape in the region over the past decades.
In an article in the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Qabas, writer Dr. Abdulhamid Al Shayji wrote that the State of Qatar and the Gulf nation have lost one of their statesmen who left a prominent mark on modern Qatar's history with the passing of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.
He noted that HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani represented a significant era in modern Qatar's history, during which the country witnessed major transformations in the fields of development, economy, education, and consolidation of its regional and international presence, while maintaining its deep-rooted Gulf identity and fraternal relations with its brothers.
In an article published in the Kuwaiti newspaper Alrai, writer Abdulrahman Al Otaibi highlighted the role and stature of HH the Father Amir. With his passing, the State of Qatar and the Arabian Gulf have lost one of their statesmen whose names are linked to pivotal moments in the region's history, and who contributed to shaping a new phase in the journey of development and modernization. 
During his reign, he noted, major modernization projects were launched, and the media presence was strengthened with the launch of Al Jazeera, which became one of the most influential media institutions in the Arab world.
Qatar also witnessed a comprehensive renaissance in infrastructure, culture, economy, and sports, becoming a model of rapid achievement and sound planning. This culminated in hosting the World Cup, an unprecedented and historic achievement.
He emphasized that the greatness of people is not measured by the years they live, but by the national legacy they leave behind, the visions they cultivate that become reality, and the institutions that stand as testaments to their contributions. The Father Amir will forever remain in the memory of his nation and people, and in the memory of all who followed with admiration the transformations that the State of Qatar witnessed during his reign. 
In an article published in Oman's Alroya Newspaper, Omani writer Nasser Al Abri said that the legacy of great historical figures remains even after their passing, leaving behind their achievements as testimony of their lives devoted to their nations and their conviction that investing in the human being is the best path to building one's country.
Among these great figures is HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, whose reign was one of the most significant transformative periods in Qatar's history, so much so that the country's development experience during that period become a case study worthy of appreciation, he added.
The passing of HH the Father Amir is not merely a Qatari event, rather, it is an occasion for the people of the Gulf and the Arab world to reflect on the legacy of a leader who possessed a far-reaching vision, succeeded in turning aspirations into reality, and laid the foundations for the comprehensive development that turned Qatar into an influential country politically, economically, and culturally at both the regional and international levels, Al Abri said. 
HH the Father Amir believed that true wealth was not only based on natural resources, but that it also included their sound management and using these natural resources to serve the people, the Omani writer said. Based on that vision, His Highness led a comprehensive national project that invested energy revenues in building schools, universities, hospitals, research centers, and modern infrastructure. 
Investing in human development became a defining hallmark of HH the Father Amir's reign whose impact extended across every sector of Qatar, Al Abri highlighted. 
Under HH the Father Amir, the State of Qatar became a scientific and cultural hub that attracted leading global academic institutions and embraced the role of knowledge in advancing comprehensive development, he added. 
In an article published in Lebanon's Annahar newspaper, Lebanese journalist Nader Ezzeddine said that during HH the Father Amir's reign, Qatar led mediation efforts involving Lebanon, Sudan, Palestine, and Yemen. 
The State of Qatar hosted conferences, negotiations, and diplomatic initiatives, with mediation becoming one of the defining features of Qatari foreign policy as well as a means of strengthening the country's security by making it a sought-after party in crisis management, Ezzeddine added.
The Lebanese journalist reviewed a number of HH the Father Amir's achievements across various fields, including sports, education, and the economy.
He noted that education was one of the central pillars of His Highness' initiatives through the establishment of Education City, which attracted branch campuses of international universities and provided students from Qatar and the wider region with the opportunity to study at world-class institutions in Doha. 
Saudi writer Mirza Al Khuwaildi stated that with the passing of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Qatar has concluded one of the most prominent political and developmental experiences in the Gulf region in recent decades, noting that Sheikh Hamad's name is synonymous with the greatest transformation in modern Qatar's history, as the country, during his reign, moved from a state with limited influence to an influential player in politics, economics, and media at both the regional and international levels.
In an article published in the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Al Khuwaildi added Sheikh Hamad's policies relied on investing gas wealth to build a strong economy and diversify sources of income. During his years in power, the GDP more than doubled, per capita income rose, and liquefied natural gas exports ushered in a new era in the country's history.
Externally, Qatar adopted a more active policy in regional affairs and played a mediating role in several African and international conflicts, most notably the Lebanese crisis, both during the 2006 war and the 2008 political crisis. It also took significant political stances in support of the Palestinian cause, particularly providing economic support to the Gaza Strip and creating a conducive environment for negotiations to end the war there. HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani was the first Arab leader to visit Gaza in 2012.
For his part, the Spanish writer Eduardo Alvarez considered the biography of HH the Father Amir to be that of a leader with great political acumen. In an analysis published in the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, he added that the Father Amir was the architect of remarkable initiatives in an energy-rich region, transforming a remote location into an international hub in record time.
For his part, Spanish journalist Alberto Ochoa stated that during the reign of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, far-reaching economic, social, and cultural changes took place. Under his leadership, Qatar transformed into a global diplomatic and investment powerhouse. He also leveraged its vast natural gas reserves to finance unprecedented international expansion and successfully secured Doha's selection to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
In a report published in the Spanish newspaper Moncloa, Ochoa noted that HH the Father Amir also modernized the country's political structure. His focus on soft power by exerting influence through culture and diplomacy positioned Qatar among the world's most active diplomatic players.
For his part, Indonesian researcher Kurniawan Arif believes that HH the Father Amir was the architect of modern Qatar's renaissance, reshaping the foundations of the concept of sovereignty and proving that a small state can become a globally significant and indispensable player on the international stage, not through military might, but by redefining the true meaning of power in the 21st century.
In an article on the British website Middle East Monitor, he noted that HH the Father Amir enabled Qatar to play a pivotal role in international relations, becoming an indispensable international mediator.
He added that the country's GDP increased more than twenty-fourfold during his reign, and Qatar became one of the world's largest exporters of LNG.
The researcher emphasized that the significance of these achievements lies in their integration. Al Jazeera gave Qatar media power, Education City provided it with a wealth of knowledge, the World Cup enhanced its global presence, and LNG provided economic leverage.
The British newspaper The Times stated that HH the Father Amir led the modernization of Qatar, transforming it into an influential player on the international stage.
The newspaper considered him the architect of Qatar's modern renaissance, having led its transformation from a small peninsula in the Gulf into a modern, energy-rich, and stable nation that plays a significant role in international investment and diplomacy.
The Anadolu Agency, among other Turkish media outlets, also published a report describing HH the Father Amir as the leader who spearheaded Qatar's transformation, making it more prominent regionally and globally through an economic shift based on natural gas revenues and infrastructure investments, as well as proactive foreign policy initiatives. He also played an active role on both regional and international levels. (QNA)