‘Yuba’ – My dear father
My father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, believed leadership meant putting Qatar and its people first.
![John Esposito was an early and courageous scholar who challenged Orientalist misrepresentations of Islam and Muslims in an era of deep polarisation [Screenshot/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/esposito-1784263463.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
![Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa along with his wife Sheikha Moza and his son Sheikh Tamim are being shown an Al Jazeera studio by the author. [Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aljazeera-1784099663-1784105925.webp?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
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Will Lindsey Graham’s death affect Israel’s standing in Washington?
It might in the short term, but not in the long term.
Even if the Iran war ends, the next fossil fuel shock is already on its way
To prepare, the world needs to focus on building energy independence through renewables and decentralisation.
Sheikh Hamad gave Arab media a voice
A tribute to the late Father Emir whose vision and resolve made Al Jazeera possible.
![Hamad bin Khalifa was a shield for the network and those who worked for it, writes Ahmed Al Sheikh [Screengrab/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-13-at-11.40.04-AM-1783932164.png?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
In Iran, Pezeshkian will be the scapegoat for the failed MoU
Putting all the blame on the Iranian president covers up tensions between competing factions in Tehran.
The architect of Qatari autonomy
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani made Qatar safe by making it relevant.
FIFA is not an independent sporting organisation; it is a political tool.
Football fans around the world are only now finding out what Palestinians have long known.
The US is building a new pressure architecture against Iran
Trump’s NATO diplomacy is part of a wider effort to weaken Tehran by reshaping the region around it.
EU states do not need ‘consensus’ to hold Israel accountable
As foreign ministers meet on Gaza and the West Bank, national governments cannot hide behind EU paralysis.
How an Egypt-Argentina World Cup game became a referendum on Palestine
Contested calls and rival flags showed how Palestine now shapes debates over power and fairness in sport.
Administration without sovereignty will not free Palestine
The end of Hamas governance in Gaza may change who administers it, but not who holds power over Palestinian life.
