Izzeldin Abu Elaish is a Palestinian physician and internationally recognised peace and human rights activist devoted to advancing health and educational opportunities for women and girls in the Middle East. He is also known for using health as a vehicle for peace. Dr Abu Elaish’s book, I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor’s Journey—the story of his loss of his three daughters, Bessan, Mayar, and Aya, and their cousin Noor to Israeli shelling in 2009 and his subsequent transformation—has achieved critical acclaim. Published in 2010 and translated into 17 languages, the book has become an international best seller. It is a testament to his commitment to forgiveness as the solution to conflict, and the catalyst towards peace. He has received a number of national and international awards for his work, including The Public Peace Prize in 2014.
Source of Influence: Social Issues
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