Izzeldin Abuelaish

Izzeldin Abuelaish is a Palestinian Canadian physician and renowned human rights and peace activist dedicated to advancing health and education for women and girls in the Middle East. Born in Jabalia Refugee Camp in Gaza, he overcame immense hardships, including poverty, violence, and the tragic loss of his three daughters and niece in the 2009 Gaza War, followed by the murder of 21 family members on October 31. Known as the "Martin Luther King of the Middle East," he has been nominated five times for the Nobel Peace Prize. His autobiography, I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor’s Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity, published in 2010 and available in 23 languages, chronicles his loss and transformation and underscores his commitment to forgiveness and peace. He founded the Canadian charity Daughters for Life, which supports young women in pursuing higher education. Abuelaish currently resides in Toronto and is a professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.