The meeting involved hundreds of millions of dollars and the first show of diplomatic unity for Gaza but all eyes were on two women and their sense of style.
The first ladies of Hamas and Qatar might not be as well known as Queen Rania or Suzan Mubarak but they hit the headlines this week with their tête-à-tête on Tuesday. The Qataris made a flying trip to Gaza - the first visit by a head of state since Hamas took over power in 2007 - to show solidarity and promise funds for the future.
Sheikha Mozah, wife of the Prince of Qatar, is regularly seen on the pages of women’s magazines with her stylish attire. Vanity Fair, purveyor of all things chic, deemed Her Highness fashionable enough to warrant a place on the ‘best dressed’ list. According to them, the lady who is the second of the Emir’s three wives, inspires Hollywood celebrities with her sense of style.
Amal Haniyeh, wife of the head of Hamas, could not be more different. This shy retiring lady is rarely seen on the pages of the broadsheets, let alone on the covers of international fashion rags. Hamas leaders, with their strict take on Islam, are not exactly fans of women’s rights and would rather see their wives sat at home.
So the world watched eagerly as the reclusive Amal and the showy Sheikha met for the first time. The Gazan lady was dressed in a ‘Jilbab’ (long black cape) and large white headscarf, as would befit the wife of a man enforcing head coverings on everyone from college students to attorneys.
But the Sheikha gave us the biggest surprise as she sported even more conservative garb than her first wife counterpart. Dressed in all black, she only hinted at her usual style with red trim around the edges of her cape and a matching belt. Although the Qatari wife usually covers her head on official state visits, the scarf is more 50s-Vogue-style turban than conservative hijab.
However, even with her covered look, the Sheikha still stole the spotlight from poor Amal, who was deemed ‘frumpy’ by the Arab press. No matter that their husbands were talking international politics and construction funding, the eyes of the world were more interested in fringes and accessories.
What did you think about the first wives in Gaza? Are these women the real power behind the throne? Tell us what you think below.
