Although Qatar’s majority of population is expatriate, yet there is a special segment of expatriates for whom this country means more than their home country. People from Palestine are from such section who has been calling this country home for generations.
Speaking to The Peninsula, they expressed solidarity with Qatar and said they would do ‘anything’ to defend Qatar.
“Qatar is my home, my life and everything,” said Ahmed Alhabali, an IT professional who was born and raised in Qatar. He has been to Palestine. “Some don’t realise how Qatar is giving and supporting many people. Qatar has given us everything including education, health and a safe environment to live. I was born in Qatar and completed my school education here, did my higher education in the US. All my life I have been to the Palestine only four or five times,” he said.
“Qatar is not just home for me, but is home for my children as well. They haven’t been to the Palestine so far. Qatar is home for them. Qatar means so much for us and we stand by this country and its leadership,” he added.
Similar to Ahmed, the family of Eyad Alseadi’s moved to Qatar in 70’s. He is an engineering graduate from the Qatar University.
“I have been to Palestine only about four times. For anyone home is where you feel safe and Qatar is my home,” he said.
“Qatar knows that we can’t live in our country and it hosts us. They never told us to leave, it’s like that parents will not ask their children to leave home. Sometimes only when I see my passport I realise that I am not a Qatari citizen,” he added.
Alseadi’s parents moved here upon an invitation by a Qatari friend and Qatar has become their home for the third generation. His three children haven’t been to Palestine yet. “My father is a lawyer and once helped a Qatari outside Qatar. In regard their family invited my father to come here. Since then they treat us like a family. They see me as their children and for me they are my uncles,” he said.
“The current situation has given us a chance to realise more about this country, what this country mean to us. Will do anything for this country, even if have to fight and sacrifice life,” he added.
