On 9 December, the eve of Human Rights Day, Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish attended the pre-release screening of I Shall Not Hate at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). In this film, the Palestinian doctor recounts how he transformed a personal tragedy into a mission for reconciliation, striving for peace and justice for the Palestinian people.
The Q&A session following the film was moderated by Professor Dieter Vandebroeck.
Growing up in the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, Izzeldin Abuelaish rose from poverty through education, eventually becoming a gynaecologist specialising in fertility issues. He made history as the first Palestinian doctor to hold a staff position in an Israeli hospital. Over the years, he delivered hundreds of babies, both Palestinian and Israeli.
But tragedy struck on 16 January 2009, when an Israeli tank shell destroyed his home while he was on the phone with an Israeli TV station. His three daughters, Aya, Mayar, and Bessan, as well as his niece, were killed instantly. Overwhelmed with grief, Abuelaish shared the news live on air. Reflecting on that moment, he later admitted he momentarily lost faith in humanity. But his resolve only grew stronger.
He now firmly believes that dialogue and collaboration are the only paths to lasting peace.
You can read the interview with Dr Abuelaish here.
