He was an opponent of British mandatory rule in Palestine, supporting the Ottomans during World War I and later the nationalist Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Amin al-Husayni.

During his reign as mayor he built a hospital, several mosques and schools in Gaza, and is credited with introducing the modern plow to the city in 1911.

In 1926–27, he took charge in the restoration of the Great Mosque of Gaza after it was mostly destroyed by British bombardment during the World War.

[2] Al-Shawwa died in 1930 and was replaced Muhi ad-Din 'Abd al-Shafi, a Muslim scholar and opponent of al-Husayni.

[7] Al-Shawwa's home in Gaza City was included in an 1887 map created by the missionary Georg Gatt.