Increasing security in Gaza for Qatari Amir's visit

Security in the Gaza Strip was beefed up here Tuesday in preparation for the upcoming visit by Qatari Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. The Qatari Amir, scheduled to arrive later today, will be inaugurating a reconstruction projects in the Gaza Strip worth USD 254 million. This is the first visit by an Arab leader to Gaza Strip since Hamas won the elections in 2006 and also since the 2007 Israeli imposed blockade. Interior Minister Spokesman, Islam Shahwan, told KUNA early today that all security personnel in Gaza Strip were deployed to ensure the safety of the Qatari Amir, adding that Palestinian security forces were coordinating efforts with their Qatari counterparts who arrived here yesterday. The Qatari Amir will be opening the Hamad residential area project in Khan Yunis during his visit which will begin at 10:00 a.m. local-time and last till evening, said Shahwan, adding that Sheikh Hamad will be inaugurating a medical facility dedicated for to the production for artificial limbs.