Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish comes on for a remarkable episode of The Pakistan Experience on Israel, Palestine and hatred. Dr. Izzeldin talks about Israel killing his daughters, his niece, and 22 of his family members but still vowing not to let hatred consume him.

We discuss Gaza, Resilience, Belief, Faith, the Nakbah, the Cruelty of the World, Hatred, Loss and the Current Situation in Gaza.

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, an esteemed Palestinian-Canadian physician and humanitarian, was born in the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza on August 15, 1958. He is renowned for his unwavering commitment to peace, education, and women’s empowerment, particularly following the tragic loss of three daughters during Israel’s Operation Cast Lead in January 2009.

Abuelaish studied medicine at Cairo University before moving to Canada in 1987 to pursue further training as a gynecologist. In addition to being a respected medical professional, he has dedicated himself to promoting cross-border understanding between Palestinians and Israelis through various initiatives such as the Daughters for Life Foundation (DFLF), which provides scholarships to young female students from conflict zones around the world.

His work with DFLF led him to be named one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” in 2010. The foundation also inspired his bestselling memoir, “I Shall Not Hate,” published in 2010, which chronicles his personal journey towards forgiveness after losing his family members.

In recognition of his efforts, Abuelaish received numerous awards, including the Order of Ontario, the United Nations Prize in Field Support, and the Right Livelihood Award, often referred to as the Alternative Nobel Prize. His advocacy for peace and justice continues to inspire people worldwide, making him a prominent figure in global discussions about conflict resolution and reconciliation.

The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations.

Please consider supporting us on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience

To support the channel:

Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912

Patreon.com/thepakistanexperience

And Please stay in touch:

https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1

https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience

https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience

The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.

Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh

Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/

Twitter.com/shehzad89

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:30 Gratitude, Strength and Belief in God

8:50 The experience and memory of Nakbah

14:00 Losing my daughters and losing faith in humanity

26:00 Gaza Strip, Never Again and the Cruelty of the World

38:30 Hatred and choosing not to hate

47:30 Current Situation in Gaza and Accountability of the World