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== History ==
The area of the complex was the location of the former [[Israeli settlements]] of [[Katif (Israeli settlement)|Katif]] and [[Netzer Hazani (Israeli settlement)|Netzer Hazani]].<ref name="Qatari">{{cite news |last1=Fisher |first1=Gabe |title=Qatari Ruler Uses Historic Gaza Visit to Call On Palestinian Factions to Unite |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/gaza-offers-qatari-ruler-heros-welcome/ |access-date=22 May 2024 |work=[[The Times of Israel]] |date=23 October 2012}}</ref> The settlements were abandoned in 2005, along with the entire [[Gush Katif]] settlement bloc, as a result of [[Israeli disengagement from Gaza|Israel's disengagement from Gaza]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Arfa |first1=Orit |title=10 Years Since Losing Their Home - And Almost Their Religion |url=https://www.jpost.com/Magazine/10-years-since-losing-their-home-and-almost-their-religion-409915|access-date=22 May 2024 |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |date=23 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Israel's Disengagement from Gaza (2005) {{!}} Withdrawal, Map, & Hamas {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Israels-disengagement-from-Gaza |access-date=22 May 2024|website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> The land subsequently fell under the administration of the [[Palestinian Authority]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 October 2023 |title=Timeline of Conflict Between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/conflict-between-israel-palestinians-gaza-2023-10-07/ |access-date=24 May 2024 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>
The initiative to create Hamad City came as a direct result of the visit of [[Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani]], [[Emir]] of [[Qatar]], to the [[Gaza Strip]] in 2012. The visit, the first by a head of state to the Gaza Strip since [[Battle of Gaza (2007)|Hamas fighters seized control in 2007]], was condemned by Israel as seemingly granting legitimacy to a terror organisation.<ref name="Qatari"/> Al Thani, who envisioned the project as a housing solution for low-income [[Palestinians]],<ref name="Named">{{cite news |last=Halabi |first=Einav|date=11 May 2023|title=על שם האמיר: חיסול ב"עיר העניים" בעזה שנבנתה כמתנה מקטאר |trans-title=Named For the Emir: Targeted Killing In Gaza's 'City of the Poor' Built As Gift From Qatar|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/skdlqv5vh |language=he-IL |work=[[Ynet]] |location= |access-date=22 May 2024}}</ref> laid the [[foundation stone]] for the complex and provided $150 million to fund its construction.<ref name="Qatari"/><ref name="Strike">{{cite news|title=Israeli Strike Destroys Prestige Qatar-funded Gaza Complex|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231202-israeli-strike-destroys-prestige-qatar-funded-gaza-complex|access-date=21 May 2024 |work=[[France 24]]|date=2 December 2023}}</ref> His idea was to sell the apartments at cost, while also providing an easy payment plan.<ref name="Named"/> Construction materials were almost impossible to import due to the [[blockade of the Gaza Strip]], so the Qataris looked to bring these in through the [[Rafah Border Crossing|border crossing with Egypt]].<ref name="Qatari"/> 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]].<ref name="Strike"/> In February 2017 [[Ismail Haniyeh]], then vice chairman of the [[Hamas Political Bureau]], gave a speech at the dedication ceremony of the second phase of the project, announcing the addition of 1,060 apartments.<ref name="Gift">{{cite news |last1=Osmo |first1=Liad|last2=Levy|first2=Elior |date=11 February 2017 |title=מתנה מקטאר: שכונת ענק נחנכה ברצועת עזה |trans-title=Gift From Qatar: Giant Neighbourhood Dedicated In the Gaza Strip |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4920838,00.html |language=he-IL |work=
On 10 May 2023 {{mdash}} day two of [[Operation Shield and Arrow]] {{mdash}} the [[Israeli Air Force]] (IAF) struck an apartment in the complex belonging to the sister of [[Palestinian Islamic Jihad]]'s rocket division head, killing him and two of PIJ's commanders. While the complex generally attracted a younger demographic which was not prone to [[Palestinian political violence|resistance activity]],<ref name="Named"/> ''[[Maariv]]'' claimed that [[Hamas]] operatives and officials were known to have taken refuge there.<ref name="Significant">{{cite news |last=|first=|date=3 March 2024|title=פעולה לילית משמעותית: צה"ל הפציץ בשכונת יוקרה בה גרים בכירי חמאס|trans-title=Significant Night Operation: IDF Bombs Luxury Neighborhood Where Senior Hamas Officials Live |url=https://www.maariv.co.il/news/military/Article-1080609|language=he-IL |work=[[Maariv]] |location= |access-date=22 May 2024}}</ref>
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=== Israel–Hamas war ===
{{Main|Siege of Khan Yunis|Battle of Hamad}}
On 2 December 2023, after a week-long cessation of fighting in the [[Israel–Hamas war]], the [[Israel Defense Forces]] (IDF) began [[Battle of Khan Yunis|bombing targets in Khan Yunis]], including in Hamad City.<ref>{{cite news |title=Israeli Airstrikes Hit Gaza After Truce Ends, Sirens Warning of Hamas Rockets Heard |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israeli-airstrikes-hit-gaza-after-truce-ends-sirens-warning-of-hamas-rockets-heard |access-date=21 May 2024 |work=[[PBS]] |date=1 December 2023}}</ref> The IAF conducted five airstrikes in
On 3 March 2024, after conducting a series of attacks on nearby [[Deir al-Balah]], the IDF began to [[Battle of Hamad|lay siege to Hamad City]]. By this time, the neighbourhood was serving as a shelter for additional thousands of refugees who had [[Gaza Strip evacuations|been displaced]] as a result of IDF operations in northern Gaza.<ref name="Encircles">{{cite web|last=|first=|date=3 March 2024|title=צה"ל מכתר את 'מדינת חמד' בצפון מערב חאן יונס|trans-title=IDF Encircles 'Madinat Hamad' in Northwest Khan Yunis|url=https://www.srugim.co.il/903866-%d7%a6%d7%94%d7%9c-%d7%9e%d7%9b%d7%aa%d7%a8-%d7%90%d7%aa-%d7%9e%d7%93%d7%99%d7%a0%d7%aa-%d7%97%d7%9e%d7%93-%d7%91%d7%a6%d7%a4%d7%95%d7%9f-%d7%9e%d7%a2%d7%a8%d7%91-%d7%97%d7%90%d7%9f-%d7%99%d7%95|language=he-IL |website=Srugim|location= |access-date=23 May 2024}}</ref> The IDF set up a checkpoint in the neighbourhood and directed residents to evacuate to [[Al-Mawasi]] or Deir al-Balah.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iran Update, March 3, 2024 |url=https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/iran-update-march-3-2024 |website=Critical Threats |access-date=23 May 2024}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Varshalomidze |first1=Tamila |title=Residents Trapped in Khan Younis's Hamad City and al-Qarara Appeal For Evacuation|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/3/israels-war-on-gaza-live-every-minute-counts-as-hunger-kills-in-gaza?update=2745539 |access-date=21 May 2024 |work=[[Al Jazeera]] |date=3 March 2024}}</ref> During the eleven days of fighting which ensued, specialised [[Unit Egoz|Egoz]], [[Maglan]], [[Shayetet 13]] and [[Givati Brigade|Givati]] reconnaissance units methodically went through what remained of every building in the complex, clearing
== Description ==
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