The Salt Spring Forum presents Palestinian doctor and three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish. Dr. Abuelaish is an obstetrician and gynecologist who is currently an associate professor of global health at the University of Toronto. He has dedicated his life to the pursuit of peace between Israel and Palestine. He is currently leading an effort to bring 100 severely wounded Gaza children to Canada for treatment – and funds raised at this Forum event will contribute to that.

Dr. Abuelaish was born and raised in Gaza and worked as a physician there. In 2009, his three young daughters were killed in an Israeli military strike, an event he described in his best-selling book I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor’s Journey (2010). He is the Founder and President of the Daughters for Life Foundation, a Canadian charity established in honour of his slain daughters that offers awards and scholarships to young Middle Eastern women to empower them through education.