Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has died on July 12, aged 74 years. The former king, who ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, paved the way for Qatar to grow from a from a small country to an oil and gas titan in the Middle East between 1995 and 2013, for a total of 18 years, according to undefined.

The n, (“Emir’s Court” or “Royal Office,” in English) has also announced a four-day period of public mourning in Qatar for the late Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, beginning Sunday, July 12, 2026. (according to undefinednundefined The Amiri Diwan also stated “May Allah have mercy on his soul and grant him the best reward for his service and contributions to his homeland and nation,” according to Gundefined. Government agencies and public institutions will stop work from Monday, July 13, with employees returning on Sunday, July 19. Flags across the country will be flown at half-mast during the mourning period, according to undefined.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, the countries of the United States, Israel, Lebanon, and Iran have restarted fighting and the ceasefire agreement has been broken. The main reason for this fighting is because of the Strait of Hormuz agreement has fallen apart. After agreeing to the ceasefire, Iran did partly open the Strait, but it said that ships must follow its pre-approved paths that Iran approved. Iran attacked ships that didn’t follow these paths. The US responded by bombing targets in Iran. Another reason The ceasefire agreement also collapsed after is becausehas still attacked Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, because “the June 26 framework agreement did not specifically call for the withdrawal of the Israeli forces and instead tied it to the disarmament of Hezbollah.” (according to the By undefined.