Who is Ali Shaath? Palestinian official eyed to lead Gaza technocrat committee

• Ali Shaath emerges as a potential leader of Gaza technocrat committee

Ali Shaath, a seasoned Palestinian economist and civil servant, is being discussed as a potential leader of a proposed technocratic committee to administer the Gaza Strip, according to sources cited by news outlets.

The committee is part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to govern Gaza following the devastating two-year genocide by 'Israel'. The plan aims to stabilize daily life, oversee reconstruction, and rebuild Gaza’s shattered infrastructure.

Shaath, originally from Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, currently resides in the occupied West Bank. He holds a PhD in civil engineering from Queen’s University in Belfast, UK, earned in 1989, with a focus on urban infrastructure planning, an area that has defined much of his professional career.

Over the years, Shaath has held several prominent roles in the Palestinian Authority:

• Former Deputy Minister of Planning
• Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation since 1995, contributing to development policies and international donor programs
• Acting Undersecretary at the Ministry of Transport, participating in strategic planning for infrastructure and transport projects
• CEO of the Palestinian Industrial Estates & Free Zones Authority (PIEFZA), where he helped develop industrial zones and sign cooperation agreements with academic institutions and international organizations
• Advisor and project director in economic development, infrastructure, and post-conflict reconstruction
  Known for his expertise in economic development, infrastructure planning, industrial policy, and cross-border economic integration, Shaath is seen as a possible candidate to manage Gaza’s complex reconstruction needs.

During the genocide, 'Israel' destroyed 90 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure, with the United Nations estimating reconstruction costs at around USD 70 billion. The war resulted in more than 71,000 Palestinian deaths and over 171,000 injuries, most of them women and children.

According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. officials are close to announcing the formation of a Palestinian technocrats’ committee to oversee daily governance in Gaza.

Shaath’s name is among those being considered to head the committee, which will operate under the Trump-led “Board of Peace” plan announced in September 2025, also envisaging deployment of an international stabilization force in Gaza.

The 18-member committee is expected to include Gaza residents drawn from business, academia, and civil society, including Abdulkarim Ashour, a civil society activist; Aed Yaghi, director of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society; Ayed Abou Ramadan, chair of the Gaza Chamber of Commerce; and Jaber al-Daour, president of Palestine University.

Sources say committee members have been instructed to travel to Cairo on Wednesday for discussions. 'Israel’s' approval of the committee is still pending, and changes could be made if objections arise.

The Palestinian Authority has not commented on reports regarding Shaath’s potential role.