The Trump-backed Palestinian who wants to bulldoze Gaza’s rubble into the sea

By Rami Ayyub and Nidal al-Mughrabi January 16, 2026 — 11.55am Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Jerusalem/Cairo: Ali Shaath, the Palestinian former government official chosen to administer Gaza under a US-backed deal, has an ambitious plan that includes pushing war debris into the Mediterranean Sea and rebuilding destroyed infrastructure within three years. The appointment of the civil engineer and former deputy planning minister this week marked the start of the next phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza . A destroyed beachside cafe in Gaza City. Credit: AP Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday announced the establishment of a technocratic Palestinian body that will play a role in administering the war-ravaged territory after years of rule by Hamas militants. The body will have 15 members and will be led by Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Western-backed Palestinian Authority. Shaath, born in 1958, is originally from Khan Younis in southern Gaza. He previously served as the deputy minister of planning in the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank, where he still lives. Ali Shaath will chair a group of 15 Palestinian technocrats tasked with governing the enclave. Credit: DR In that role and others, he oversaw the development of several industrial zones in the West Bank and Gaza. He holds a PhD in civil engineering from Queen’s University Belfast. Under Trump’s plan, Israel has withdrawn from nearly half of Gaza but its troops remain in control of the other half, a wasteland where nearly all buildings have been destroyed. Trump has floated turning Gaza into the “ Riviera of the Middle East ”. Shaath will face the uncertain task of rebuilding the territory’s shattered infrastructure and clearing an estimated 68 million tonnes of rubble and unexploded ordnance – even as Israel and Hamas continue to trade fire . Advertisement After past rounds of fighting with Israel, Palestinians in Gaza used war rubble as foundational material for the historic marina in Gaza City and for other projects. In an interview with a Palestinian radio station on Thursday, Shaath suggested a similar approach. “If I brought bulldozers and pushed the rubble into the sea, and made new islands, new land, I can win new land for Gaza and at the same time clear the rubble,” Shaath said, suggesting the debris could be removed in three years. He said his immediate priority was the provision of urgent relief, including forging temporary housing for displaced Palestinians. His second priority would be rehabilitating “essential and vital infrastructure”, he said, followed by reconstruction of homes and buildings. “Gaza will return and be better than it used to be within seven years,” he said. According to a 2024 United Nations report , rebuilding Gaza’s shattered homes will take until at least 2040,...

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