Profile: Ali Shaath, the technocrat tasked with rebuilding a shattered Gaza

Palestinian technocrat Ali Shaath has been appointed to lead the newly formed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a 15-member body tasked with overseeing the enclave’s transition after Israel’s devastating war. A career civil engineer and former undersecretary in the Palestinian Authority, Shaath is seen as a non-partisan, technically skilled administrator whose background in infrastructure planning and public administration aligns with the enormous challenge of coordinating Gaza’s reconstruction amid widespread ruin.

Education and Professional Background

Born in Khan Younis in 1958, Shaath earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Ain Shams University in Cairo and a master’s from the same field before completing a Ph.D. at Queen’s University in the UK in 1989, specializing in infrastructure planning and urban development. His career within the Palestinian Authority included senior roles such as undersecretary at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and the Ministry of Transport, where he worked on development policy, donor coordination, and transportation networks.

Experience in Industrial Development and Negotiations

Shaath also headed the Palestinian Industrial Estates and Free Zones Authority, managing industrial zones and signing academic partnerships to bolster the sector. In 2005, he served on Palestinian committees involved in final-status negotiations, focusing on borders and maritime access—key issues for economic sovereignty. Throughout his career, he has maintained a reputation as a technocrat rather than a political insider, a factor that likely contributed to his selection for the Gaza administration role.

Role in the US-Backed Transition Plan

His appointment is part of the 20-point ceasefire plan announced by US President Donald Trump, which includes the creation of several bodies to manage Gaza’s transition. Mediators, including Turkey, have expressed hope that Shaath’s leadership will help implement the second phase of the ceasefire, consolidate the truce, and prevent renewed escalation. The committee’s success will depend on securing unprecedented international funding, navigating complex political divisions, and coordinating amid ongoing humanitarian crisis and Israeli restrictions.