Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, MD, MPH

for his unwavering advocacy of peace between Israel and Palestine, despite losing his three daughters to the conflict.

Izzeldin Abuelaish is an obstetrician and gynecologist, who has practiced in both Israel and the Palestinian Territories.  Devoted to using medicine to bridge the gap between Israelis and Palestinians, Dr. Abuelaish has conducted joint research projects with Israeli physicians and worked to bring injured and sick Palestinians to Israel for treatment. As one of the few Palestinians with a work permit to enter Israel, Dr. Abuelaish describes himself as a bridge between the two worlds.

In January 2009 three of his daughters and a niece were killed in their home during the Gaza crisis. Bessan was 20; Mayar was 15; Aya was 14; and his niece Nur was 17.

Despite this personal tragedy, Dr. Abuelaish remains committed to spreading the message of forgiveness, hope and non-violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Dr. Abuelaish believes that humanity and suffering will bring Jews and Arabs together. “We have to face each other. I will never lose hope,” he said

Dr. Abuelaish is creating a foundation to provide leadership development and access to education for women throughout the Middle East. The Daughters for Life Foundation will honor the memory of his daughters and serve as a living legacy. The organization will be headquartered in Toronto with additional offices in Gaza, Israel, and the United States.

www.daughtersforlife.com