Dr. Muhammad Shabir (Muḥammad Shabīr) (محمد عيد شبير) was a Palestinian academic, microbiologist, and political figure who played a significant role in Palestinian higher education and national politics. He was best known for his tenure as President of the Islamic University of Gaza from 1990 to 2005 and for his brief designation in 2006 as Prime Minister-in-waiting during efforts to form a Palestinian national unity government.

Born in Khan Yunis on 28 March 1946, Shabir pursued higher education in the United States, earning his Ph.D. in microbiology from Marshall University. Upon his return to Gaza, he became a leading figure in academia, specializing in microbiology, virology, and immunology. His scholarly contributions included research papers and public lectures in the biomedical sciences. One of his better-known works was titled The Miracle of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, in which he explored the scientific and ethical complexities of HIV/AIDS.

As President of the Islamic University of Gaza, Shabir led the institution through a period of growth, academic expansion, and increasing international engagement, despite the growing blockade and regional instability. He was known for his balanced relationships across political factions, including Fatah and Hamas, and was considered a politically moderate and unifying figure.

In November 2006, Shabir was nominated by consensus of both Hamas and Fatah to lead a unity government as Prime Minister, a role that would have made him a key transitional leader during one of the most politically fragile periods in Palestinian governance. Although the unity government ultimately collapsed and Shabir did not assume the office, his nomination reflected the broad respect he commanded across the Palestinian political spectrum.

Shabir maintained close relationships with senior political leaders, including the late Yasser Arafat, whom he regularly visited in both Gaza and the West Bank. Outside of politics, he was a family man with six children. His wife, Rehab Mohammad Shabir, served as deputy minister of women’s affairs in the Palestinian government.

On 12 November 2023, during the Gaza genocide, Dr. Muhammad Eid Shabir was critically wounded in an Israeli airstrike on his family home in Gaza City. Although he initially survived the blast, he was later shot and killed by an Israeli sniper. He was 77 years old. The airstrike killed five members of his family, including his wife Rehab, their daughter-in-law Najat Ayoub Alhelo, and their infant grandson Muhammad Malik Shabir.

Dr. Shabir is remembered for his scientific contributions, educational leadership, political moderation, and his unwavering commitment to the Palestinian people through education and dialogue.

Photo credit: Al-Jazeeera