The White House announced Friday that little-known former Palestinian Authority bureaucrat Dr. Ali Sha’ath will serve as leader of the fledgling “technocratic” government that will rule the Gaza Strip if Hamas relinquishes control.
Sha’ath, who formerly worked as the Palestinian Authority’s deputy transportation ministry, with report to the President Trump-chaired Board of Peace, which was authorized by the United Nations.
The White House described Sha’ath as “a widely respected technocratic leader who will oversee the restoration of core public services, the rebuilding of civil institutions, and the stabilization of daily life in Gaza, while laying the foundation for long-term, self-sustaining governance.”
The statement said that “Dr. Sha’ath brings deep experience in public administration, economic development, and international engagement, and is widely respected for his pragmatic, technocratic leadership and understanding of Gaza’s institutional realities.”
The White House also announced seven members of the Board of Peace, including US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
World Bank President Ajay Banga, deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel and Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan will also serve on the board.
“Each Executive Board member will oversee a defined portfolio critical to Gaza’s stabilization and long-term success, including, but not limited to, governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilization,” the White House said.
Nickolay Mladenov, a former Bulgarian member of the European Parliament, will serve as High Representative for Gaza, the press release said, and “will act as the on-the-ground link between the Board of Peace and the [transitional government.”
Major General Jasper Jeffers, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command Central, will serve as commander of the proposed International Stabilization Force peace-keeping mission, which will be comprised of yet-to-be-specified troop contributions from regional countries.
