I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey

In answering a question about seeking revenge for a horrible wrong, the great humanitarian, Mahatma Ghandi said "an eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind."

The world has watched in either in angst or cold detachment at the never-ending eye for an eye conflict impacting the people of Israel and Palestine, a turmoil that does not appear to be solvable by politicians. From afar, it appears this conflict will not end until the whole world is blind. After reading "I Shall Not Hate", my perspective has changed, and I now think hope will prevail. This hope for peace is not based in the words or deeds by political leaders, but from examples of the Palestinian and Israeli people themselves, such as Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish (and his Israeli and Palestinian friends and supporters), and their efforts to create a peace through education, understanding and taking peaceful action.

In this memoir, Izzeldin Abuelaish tells his fascinating story, from his birth in a Gaza refugee camp, his youth and overcoming poverty to becoming a doctor living in Gaza, and working in a hospital in Israel. 2009 was a year of anguish, with Dr. Abuelaish losing his wife to cancer, and then having three of his eight children taken away by unnecessary tank shelling.

If you have viewed the Israeli-Palestine conflict in a state of cold detachment, there is another reason to read "I Shall Not Hate". The book helped improve my understanding of the situation impacting Palestine and Israel, but the story also engages emotions, tugging on the heart strings for empathy and compassion. The narrative is riveting, especially the sequence of detail during January 2009 events, when the Israelis launched a 23 day assault on the Gaza strip. A warning to the reader, it is hard to even imagine the horror this man must have felt on the evening of January 16, 2009 when an Israeli tank shelled the apartment where the Abuelaish family lived, killing three of his daughters, Bissan, Mayar, and Aya, and his niece Noor, in their bedroom. Another daughter, Shatha, was badly injured. The post blast description of the bedroom is graphic and emotive.

Dr. Abuelaish is a remarkable man of commitment and courage. His reaffirmation of faith, after the death of his daughters, and his new commitment to give meaning to their lives after their passing, with messages and life lessons on forgiveness, hope and love, is truly heroic. Mahatma Ghandi also said "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." There are no stronger humans than Izzeldin Abuelaish.

Dr. Abuelaish lays out some ways for us all to get involved in the peace process. In honour of his daughters, he has established a new Foundation, "Daughters for Life", an organization that will provide scholarships for girls and women living in the Middle East.

Such horrific tragedy has been bestowed upon this family living in the Gaza Strip. Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish lost his wife to leukemia, three of his daughters and a neice in a bombing of his home and suffered irreparable grief.

The story is heartbreaking is asad and full of struggle and pain. However, it is Dr. Abuelaish's response to the loss of his children that made news and headlines around the world as well as winning him humanitarian awards. Most people would seek revenge in this instance but not Dr. Abuelaish, instead he called for the people of the Middle East to begin talking to each other, to learn to settle things and treat each other as they are, brothers in humanity. Palestinian, Israeli, Egyptian, Jewish or whatever does not matter, we are all human with the same feelings and emotions.

Dr. Abuelaish's biggest wish is that his daughters will be the LAST sacrifice on the road to peace between Palestinians and Israelis.

This is a book that we can ALL learn something from. If YOU think YOU have a hard life, read this book and see how deeply ashamed you feel for complaining. My wish is for Dr. Abuelaish's wishes to come true, that peace will be restored in the Middle East and with that the knowledge that his daughter's did not die in vain.

As an expat living in the Middle East I found this book to be a testament to the will and fogiveness that Dr. Abuelaish has for those who have taken much away from him and his family. Perhaps we need to bring people with likeminded convictions together with the leaders of the area and perhaps we can begin to put to rest the mistrust and hatred that brews here. To Dr. Abuelaish and his family you are a wonderful example of a true close knit family and I am very glad you have come to stay in Canada. Mabrook!

I honestly don't think I could or would have the same outlook on things as Mr. Abuelaish. I can't imagine going through an ordeal like that and not hating the people who did it. Izzeldin is a very strong and corageous human being. This book was heartbreaking.

Definitely a must read for those interested in the middle-east conflict. I was truly amazed by the integrity and humanity of Dr. Abuelaish and how he was able to turn horrible tragedy into something positive. If only more people thought like him, the world would be a much better place!

This book made me believe that peace and co-existance can happen.

From the moment I picked up this book I knew it would be magical. By the end of the book I was truly transformed. Not only is this book a lesson in history, but also it forces the reader to look beyond race & religion to see & feel the human side of life, loss, death, war and destruction. To read this book and not feel anything is abnormal. I recommend that you read it, take in every line, every word, then recommend it to someone else. This book deserves to be read and this story needs to be told. Truly magnificent.

If there were more Palestenians and Israelis like Izzeldin, we would have already had peace.

In spite of his personal suffering as a result of this conflict, he still chooses to believe in the goodness of people and that the desire for peace will ultimately triumph over hate.

This book will make you aware of how difficult life is for the Gaza refugees. It also presents an unbiased snapshot of the daily interaction between Palestenians and Israelis.

I myself am in the process of becoming a doctor. People have asked me why I want to be a doctor as they have long hours an sacrifice so much in their lives to help others. For me it has always been about helping others, about preventing another family from a loss which possibly with my help has been prevented. After reading this book I feel more inspired to help others than I ever thought possible. Through sharing his life's journey with the world, he brings hope to the future of not only his home country but to all countries at odds with each other. He heals without prejudice which even for doctors can be difficult to do. I praise him for teaching his children to think of themselves as world citizens and not just as people with a certain citizenship. Bless you for your words and you truly kind spirit. If I can be 1/8 of the doctor and person you are I will be content in my life.

In this book you will find a man who can show you love for his Family, Palestinians, all humans and even Israelis'. You can feel it in his writing.
I do not think this man can hate.
He will tell you that hate is a disease and it can consume you. What more could be true?

The story of Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish's life is inspiring! A must read for anyone who wishes to see an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Not only did this book provide me with a better understanding of the situation facing the people in Gaza, this book made me believe in peace.

Dr. Abuelaish is the Ghandi of the Palestinian people.