His speech was broadcast on Qatari television on Wednesday afternoon.

Later in the evening, a cabinet reshuffle was announced with Abdallah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani is the new prime minister, replacing the long-serving Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, according to Qatar news agency.

Meanwhile Khalid al-Atiyah has been announced as foreign minister and Ali Sherif al-Emadi  the new finance minister.

The 33-year-old promised he would continue his father’s “path”

In terms of foreign policy, he said that his country rejects sectarianism in Arab societies while stressing  that Qatar was committed to the cause of Palestine, and would work to end Israeli occupation, according to Al Jazeera.

The news agency added that there wasn’t any mention of specific policies in places such as Syria.

Tamim is the fourth son of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and the second child of the Emir with his second wife, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned.

His father, Sheikh Hamad came to power in a coup when he overthrew his own father Sheikh Khalifa in June 1995 while he was in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Emir is famous for helping to establish the first Arab international news network, Al Jazeera.

Qatar holds the world’s third largest natural gas reserves and is the single largest supplier of liquefied natural gas. Qatar is also a member of OPEC and is a significant net exporter of oil.

The sheikh “will meet Monday with the royal family and advisors,” the Qatar-owned Al Jazeera television news channel reported Sunday,

The news channel said it had learned of the news from “trusted sources”, but provided no further details.

“The planned meeting comes amid news about the intentions of the emir to transfer power to his heir apparent, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani,” said the Qatar-based news channel.

Sheikh Hamad came to power in a coup when he overthrew his own father Sheikh Khalifa in June 1995 while he was in Geneva, Switzerland.

He will either hand over power  to Sheikh Tamim or appoint him prime minister in the place of powerful premier Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr al-Thani, according to AFP.

Tamim is the fourth son of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and the second child of the Emir with his second wife, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned.

Qatar took part in the armed intervention in Libya and is actively supporting rebel forces in Syria.

The Emir is famous for helping to establish the first Arab international news network, Al Jazeera.

Qatar holds the world’s third largest natural gas reserves and is the single largest supplier of liquefied natural gas. Qatar is also a member of OPEC and is a significant net exporter of oil.

‘‘Why are you staying divided?” Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani said during a speech at Gaza’s Islamic University, where he and his wife Sheikha Mozah were presented with honorary doctorates, according to AP.

“There are no peace negotiations, and there is no clear strategy of resistance and liberation. Why shouldn’t brothers sit together and reconcile, ” he added.

The emir, the first Arab ruler to visit the Gaza Strip since since Israel imposed a siege on Gaza in 2007. met senior Israeli officials, denounced Israel’s policies and praised people in Gaza for standing up to it with “bare chests.”

But he said internal strife had undermined the Palestinian resistance to Israel’s occupation, adding that reconciliation was most urgent.

Sheikh Hamad has previously sought to mediate between Hamas and Fatah and urged an end to the division based on the Doha and Cairo agreements, and the efforts of Fatah leader President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas chief Khalid Mashaal.

Thousands lined the streets in Gaza to welcome the Qatari emir Haniyeh declared as a “victory” over the blockade through this historic visit.

Qatar has called the visit a humanitarian gesture, to inaugurate reconstruction projects financed by the emirate. After initially earmarking $250 million for the schemes, Hamas premier Ismail Haniyeh announced the fund now stood at $400 million.

The Qatari investment project aims to rebuild the Gaza Strip, which endured damage during a huge 22-day Israeli military operation in December 2008 and January 2009.

The investment project seeks to build 1,000 homes for poor families in the devastated Khan Younis area in the south of the Strip.

On the other hand, Fatah had urged Palestinians to boycott the emir’s visit, and said it would entrench the division between the West Bank and Gaza, according to Maan news agency.

Fatah’s office in Gaza said it had not been invited to the meet the sheikh by Qatar or Hamas, but Gaza government spokesman Taher al-Nunu said Fatah had rejected an invitation to the welcoming ceremony.

Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, has left Doha with a large delegation including his wife Sheikh Moza, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim and other ministers, according to Qatar News Agency (QNA).

The Emir is set to enter the Gaza Strip by land from Egypt given that Gaza has no airport or seaport, as Israel controls all the other crossing points.

The visit hailed as “very important” comes during a spike in tension between Israel and Hamas, whose armed wing on Monday threatened revenge for Israeli air strikes that killed one of its men and at least one other militant, AFP reported.

The Qatari investment project aims to rebuild the Gaza Strip, which endured damage during a huge 22-day Israeli military operation in December 2008 and January 2009.

The investment project seeks to build 1,000 homes for poor families in the devastated Khan Younis area in the south of the Strip.

“This visit has great political significance,” said Hamas government spokesman Taher al-Nunu, according to Al Jazeera.

“He is the first Arab leader to break the political siege.

Israel commented on the visit also. “We find it weird that the emir doesn’t support all of the Palestinians but sides with Hamas over the Palestinian Authority (in the West Bank) which he has never visited,” foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor told AFP on Monday.

“The emir has chosen his camp and it is not good.”