Hamad City
Hamad City
مدينة حمد السكنية | |
|---|---|
Neighbourhood of Khan Yunis | |
Nickname:
| |
  Hamad City Location of Hamad City within Palestine | |
| Coordinates: 31°22′34″N 34°19′06″E / 31.37608°N 34.31835°E | |
| Palestine grid | 83/83 |
| Country | State of Palestine |
| Governorate | Khan Yunis Governorate |
| City | Khan Yunis |
| Opened | 2016 |
| Founded by | Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | +3 |
Hamad City or Hamad Town (Arabic: مدينة حمد السكنية, romanized: Madinat Hamad) is a housing development and neighbourhood of Khan Yunis, a city in the Gaza Strip. Named after its benefactor, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar, it was conceived as a housing solution for lower-income Palestinian families.
In 2024, it was the scene of a battle in the Israel-Hamas war. The neighbourhood was mostly destroyed as a result of the war, along with most of the Gaza Strip.
History[edit]
Hamad City was conceived as a neighbourhood in the Gaza Strip for low-income Palestinians living there. Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, provided most of the funds needed to begin construction of the neighbourhood, and laid the foundation stone in 2012. Hamad City was inaugurated in 2016, with the first thousand units being awarded to families who lost their homes as a result of the 2014 Gaza War.[1]
Israel–Hamas war[edit]
On 2 December 2023, after a week-long cessation of the fighting in the Israel–Hamas war, the Israel Defense Forces began their siege on Khan Yunis.[2] The Israeli Air Force conducted five airstrikes within the space of two minutes, leveling nearly the entire neighbourhood.[1] A total of fifty targets in the district and in neighbouring al-Qarara were hit by airstrikes and artillery within the space of six minutes.[3] Residents were warned to leave the area via leaflets before the strikes commenced.[4]
Description[edit]
Hamad City consisted of three thousand apartments divided among a number of sand-coloured apartment blocks. Although conceived as a solution for lower-income residents, the complex has been described as "prestigious". It featured its own mosque, shops and garden area.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Israeli Strike Destroys Prestige Qatar-funded Gaza Complex". France 24. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "Israeli Airstrikes Hit Gaza After Truce Ends, Sirens Warning of Hamas Rockets Heard". PBS. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Varshalomidze, Tamila (3 December 2024). "Residents Trapped in Khan Younis's Hamad City and al-Qarara Appeal For Evacuation". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ El-Bursh, Adnan; Gribben, Paul (2 December 2023). "In Pictures: Development Near Southern City Hit By Israeli Strikes". BBC. Retrieved 21 May 2024.