I Shall Not Hate

Name: I Shall Not Hate
Author: Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish

Witness a Palestinian doctor transform unimaginable loss into a courageous call for peace, dialogue, and human dignity over hatred and revenge.

18 min6 Chapters

Listen to the intro

1:15

Personal Growth & Self-Help

History & Politics

Biography & Memoir

Outline

What's it about?

I Shall Not Hate (2010) is the memoir of a Palestinian doctor from Gaza who lost three of his daughters and a niece when shells struck his family home in January 2009. Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish describes his childhood in a refugee camp, his medical career, and his commitment to treating patients on both sides of the conflict. Rather than responding with hatred, he calls for peace, dialogue, and education for girls and women.

Key ideas

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish lost three daughters and a niece when shells struck his family home in Gaza in January 2009.
He grew up in a refugee camp, and the book traces how that childhood led to a medical career.
He kept treating patients on both sides of the conflict, which shaped how he saw the people around him.
After his loss, he chose a call for peace and dialogue over hatred and revenge.
He argues that educating girls and women is central to building a better future.

About the author

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish is a Palestinian physician, author, and professor at the University of Toronto. After the loss of his daughters, he founded Daughters for Life, a foundation that supports education for young women in the Middle East. He has been widely recognised for his work for peace.

Questions people ask

What is I Shall Not Hate about?

It is the memoir of Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Palestinian doctor from Gaza who lost three daughters and a niece in January 2009. Instead of answering with hatred, he calls for peace, dialogue, and education for girls and women.

Who is I Shall Not Hate for?

It suits readers who enjoy memoirs and personal stories of resilience, and those who want to understand how one person responded to grief with a message of peace. It is also relevant for anyone interested in the human side of the Palestinian experience.

How long is the Durar summary of I Shall Not Hate?

The Durar summary takes about 15 minutes to read or listen to. It covers the author's journey from a refugee camp to a medical career and his call for peace after his loss.