GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- The Emir of Qatar is set to visit the Gaza Strip in the coming few days, the first visit by an Arab leader since Hamas took power in the coastal enclave, a Gaza TV channel said on Sunday.

Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his wife Sheikha Mozah are slated to come to Gaza following the arrival of Qatari delegates on Sunday, al-Kitab satellite channel said.

Gaza's ministry of interior said in a statement it had deployed security officials throughout the Gaza Strip to prepare for the Qatari delegation, headed by Amb. Muhammad al-Amadi.

The group, which is preparing for the emir's visit, arrived in Gaza through Egypt's Rafah crossing on Sunday, a Ma'an correspondent said.

Qatar has pledged half a billion dollars in assistance to the Gaza Strip over the coming three years to rebuild infrastructure destroyed in Israeli attacks.