Detailed biography of Omar Shaban Ismail: founder of PalThink for Strategic Studies (2007), MSc in Development Policy from the Geneva Graduate Institute, inaugural Leahy Fellow for Human Rights and Security at the Center for International Policy (2024). Over three decades of policy analysis.
Political Economist — Founder & Director, PalThink for Strategic Studies
Omar Shaban is a Palestinian political economist and development researcher from Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. A commitment to change, formed during his first years studying economics, has matured over a career spanning more than three decades of academic inquiry and policy engagement.
In 2007 he founded PalThink for Strategic Studies — an independent research and policy institute based in Gaza — to enrich public policy debate, build bridges of dialogue among Palestinian stakeholders, and foster a culture of critical thinking and objective analysis.
His research and commentary have appeared on some of the world's most influential policy platforms, among them the Brookings Institution, Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network, the Arab Reform Initiative, the Middle East Institute, the Cairo Review of Global Affairs, the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Decision-makers, international organisations, and major media outlets consult him regularly on Gaza's future, the pathways to reconstruction, and the Palestinian economy.
Shaban has devoted his career to developing practical approaches to Gaza's reconstruction and governance in the post-conflict period. He has proposed a Collaborative Council for Gaza's Reconstruction, bringing Palestinian actors and international donors together within a single multilateral framework. He argues that sustainable development, good governance, and distributive justice are indispensable foundations for building the Palestine of the future.
Beyond his research, Shaban takes an active part in European policy dialogue on the Palestinian question and brings an independent Gazan voice to international forums.
Areas of expertise
Palestinian Political Economy
Gaza Reconstruction & Post-conflict Recovery
Governance & Institution-building
Palestinian National Reconciliation
Economic & Social Development
EU–Palestinian Relations
Crisis Management Policy
Humanitarian Economics in Conflict Zones
Experience
Founder & Executive Director — PalThink for Strategic Studies — Gaza — 2007 – الآن
Expert (joined 2024) — European Institute of Peace — Brussels — 2024 – الآن
National expert, evaluation of EU cooperation with the occupied Palestinian territory — European Union — 2013
Head of humanitarian and emergency programmes (about ten years) — Catholic Relief Services — Gaza
Staff member (about ten years) — UNRWA — United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
Education
Bachelor of Science in Economics — Zagazig University — Egypt — 1984
MSc in Entrepreneurial Studies — University of Stirling — United Kingdom — 1996
MSc in Development Policy and Practice — Geneva Graduate Institute — Switzerland — 2023
Memberships
Strategic Peacebuilding through Dialogue and Mediation — Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA), Sweden — 2019
Expert & Contributing Researcher — Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network — 2014 – الآن
Contributing Analyst — Arab Reform Initiative (ARI) — Paris — 2017 – الآن
Working languages
Arabic — Native
English — Full professional proficiency
French — Professional working proficiency
Recognition & distinctions
Founded PalThink for Strategic Studies, an independent think tank in Gaza — 2007
Atlas Network Middle East and North Africa Liberty Award, to PalThink — 2021
Inaugural Leahy Fellow for Human Rights and Security, Center for International Policy — 2024
Accepted the World Movement for Democracy's Democracy Courage Tribute to Palestinian civil society (Johannesburg) — 2024
Published by Brookings, Carnegie, the Middle East Institute, the Arab Reform Initiative and Al-Shabaka — 2012–
Conferences & seminars
The Levant Beyond Conflict: Rebuilding States, Reconnecting Societies — MERI Forum 2026— Panelist · Middle East Research Institute (MERI) · Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq · 2026
Israel, Palestine and the Future of Regional Diplomacy — Cyprus Forum 2026— Panelist · Cyprus Forum · Nicosia, Cyprus (he took part online) · 2026
Gaza Under War: The Humanitarian Crisis and the Complexity of the Palestinian Situation— Participant · EU Member States Officials (Closed Seminar) · Valletta, Malta · 2026
Regional Developments: Palestine, Lebanon & Syria — Session with Western Diplomats— Speaker · University of Jordan & Konrad Adenauer Foundation · Amman, Jordan (he spoke remotely) · 2026
EuroMeSCo Annual Conference 2026 — Session: Gaza, Trust and Europe's Engagement in the Future Peace Process— Session chair · EuroMeSCo / European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) · Larnaca, Cyprus · 2026
Unmet Needs: Gaza's Humanitarian Crisis and the International Response Gap (CHS webinar)— Panelist · Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies (CHS) — Doha · Online · 2026
Gaza: The Politics of Future in the Aftermath of Genocide— Panelist · UCL Bartlett Development Planning Unit · London, United Kingdom · 2026
Israel's Clan Strategy in Gaza: Using Disorder to Create Order?— Panelist · Middle East Institute (The Middle East Journal) · Online · 2025
What is Needed to End the Gaza War?— Panelist · Middle East Institute (MEI) — Washington · Washington D.C., USA · 2025
Roundtable on the Financial Crisis in Palestine and Humanitarian Access in Gaza— Participant · Charity & Security Network · Washington D.C., USA · 2025
Delphi Sulaymaniyah International Economic Forum— Speaker · Delphi Economic Forum / Kurdistan Region Presidency · Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq · 2025
War and Peace in the 21st Century — The Future of the Middle East: Understanding Conflict, Building Peace— Speaker · CIDOB — Barcelona Centre for International Affairs · Barcelona, Spain · 2025
Palestinian Civil Society for National Reconciliation— Speaker · PalThink for Strategic Studies with REFORM · Gaza and Ramallah, Palestine · 2022
Reconstruction in Gaza: Between Israel's Siege and the Politics of International Funding— Panelist · Arab Center Washington DC · Washington D.C., USA · 2021
EuroMeSCo Annual Conference 2019 — Civil Society and Social Movements in the Euro-Mediterranean Region— Speaker · EuroMeSCo / European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) · Barcelona, Spain · 2019
Prospects for the Next Generation of Palestinian Leadership— Panelist · Middle East Institute (MEI) — Washington · Washington D.C., USA · 2017
Middle East Conflict: Challenges and Prospects for a Resumption of Direct Peace Negotiations— Panelist · Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung · Brussels, Belgium · 2016
10th Year of the Blockade in Gaza: Humanitarian Consequences— Speaker · Belgian Deputy Prime Minister for Development Cooperation & UNRWA · Bozar, Brussels, Belgium · 2016
Reviving the Stalled Reconstruction of Gaza— Panelist · Brookings Doha Center · Doha, Qatar · 2016
Two Years after Sharm el-Sheikh: Gaza's Reconstruction Has Not Begun— Speaker · PalThink for Strategic Studies · Gaza, Palestine · 2011
The Current Palestinian Crisis: How To Exit? — First Reconciliation Roadmap— Organiser · PalThink for Strategic Studies · Gaza, Palestine · 2007
The archive in figures
33+ years working in Palestinian political economy, since 1993