User:Tshawwa/Rushdi Sa’eed Shawwa

Rushdi Sa’eed Shawwa - رشـدي الحـاج سعيـد الشـوا

Rushdi was born in the City of Gaza in the year 1889 AD. He was born in his father’s house (Al-Hajj Sa’eed Shawwa) in the al-Turkman sector of al-Shija’eya. His mother, Hafiza Sha’ath from Beer Sheba, came from the top dignitary tribe in the area. Her brother, Tajuddin Shaath, was the head of the tribe and the mayor of Beer Sheba.

Rushdi was educated in Istanbul. He was sent from the age of 10 years to study. He studied Law and finished in 1914. He came to Gaza for the summer and was supposed to return to Istanbul in September/October for the official graduation when World War 1 started and Rushdi couldn’t return to get his degree because the University of Istanbul was destroyed during the war. To get a degree, Rushdi went to Damascus, joined the Syrian University and made the four years in one year. It was then 1925. He returned to Palestine and lived in Jaffa.

During his time as Mayor of Gaza, Rushdi started rebuilding the infrastructure of the City of Gaza. He started building asphalt roads, dug Beer as-Safa (as-Safa water well), the first water well equipped with a pump and engine in Gaza, and started distributing water to the houses through a water pipe system. He also started the first sewage draining system and provided electricity as well as many other services for the people of Gaza. He built the as-Shujaiya School, az-Zaytoon School, Salahuddin School, and was the head of the founding committee that built the Palestine High School.

When the British Mandate over Palestine ended in May 15, 1948, Rushdi and other number of Arab Mayors of Palestine were awarded the Order of the British Empire Medallion (OBE) by King George VI. Rushdi was elected Mayor of Gaza more than once (four terms). When Britain left Palestine in May 15, 1948, Rushdi was the last Mayor elected for Gaza. Since 1946 no elections were been held for the municipality of Gaza. Rushdi had the honor of flying the Flag of Palestine over the Government Building (As-Saraya) in Gaza upon the departure of the last British soldier from Gaza and Palestine in May 15, 1948.

After Rushdi’s term ended in 1951, the Egyptian authority did not run any elections for the Municipality of Gaza. They started appointing Mayors and members of the council.

When Israel occupied the Gaza Strip in 1956, Rushdi accepted the responsibility of the Municipality of Gaza and helped saving the people’s lives, secured food, security, and other needs of the people of the City of Gaza and the Gaza Strip as well. He did his duty towards his City and People to the best of his ability until the Israeli army left Gaza on March 7, 1957.

Rushdi died in London, England on Sunday, December 5, 1965 and was transported to Gaza by air to Beirut then to Gaza by the United Nations airplane, where there was a formal and national funeral for him on Thursday December 9, 1965.