Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish: I Shall Not Hate
Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish is a well-known Palestinian gynecologist who has spent years working in one of Israeli’s main hospitals. He crossed into Israel daily through the Erez checkpoint from his home in Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza. On January 16, 2009, a day and a half before the official end of the war, Dr. Abuelaish’s home was shelled twice by Israeli tanks. His three daughters were killed: 21-year-old Bessan, 15-year-old Mayar, and 13-year-old Aya.
ABOUT Tedx
TEDx was created in the spirit of TED’s mission, ‘ideas worth spreading’. The programme is designed to give communities, organisations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level.
ABOUT Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish
“Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish, often referred to as ‘the Gaza Doctor’ in foreign media, is a Palestinian medical doctor and infertility specialist who has dedicated his life to peace in the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
His personal doctrine is that hate is not a response to war. Rather, open communication, understanding and compassion are the tools to bridge the divide between Israeli and Palestinian interests.
Born and raised in the Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, Dr. Abuelaish has overcome many personal hardships, including poverty and violence, to become one of the most outspoken, prominent and beloved researchers, educators and public speakers on peace and development in the Middle East.
Dr. Abuelaish, who has worked in Israeli hospitals caring for patients and delivering babies of both Palestinian and Israeli descents, has always said that all people, regardless of their religious and political beliefs, are equal, deserve access to quality education and health care, and should have every opportunity to lead fulfilling and rewarding lives.
Dr. Abuelaish believes that doctors can act as messengers of peace, and work toward bridging the divide between people in conflict everywhere. He believes that the real enemy, in not only Palestinian and Israeli relations but all conflicts, is ignorance, a dehumanisation of others and an inability to understand and communicate with others. He believes the future must be about tolerance, dignity, respect and an embracing of our universal humanity and interconnectedness.”
The VIDEO
RELATED
