Beyond Borders Athens: A Powerful Message Against Hatred with Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish

The 9th BEYOND BORDERS FESTIVAL COMES TO ATHENS!
…and brings a powerful message against hatred from the Palestinian doctor – the protagonist of the film I Shall Not Hate.

The Palestinian doctor Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, whose story is heart-wrenching in the film I Shall Not Hate, will be in Athens for a screening, invited by the Beyond Borders – Kastellorizo International Documentary Festival.

Beyond Borders opens its three-day screenings at the Greek Film Archive with one of the most moving and timely films, I Shall Not Hate, in the presence of Palestinian doctor Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish.

Strategic Partner of Beyond Borders is PPC Group, actively supporting the arts and culture, all that leads us to a better future where culture takes the lead.

From the Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza to the University of Toronto and the Israeli Supreme Court, I Shall Not Hate follows the uncharted journey of Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, the first Palestinian doctor to work in an Israeli hospital and deliver babies. His ethos of forgiveness and reconciliation is put to the test when, in 2009, an Israeli tank bombards his house, killing his three daughters and niece. Despite the adversity, he transforms his tragedy into a global campaign to eradicate hatred. I Shall Not Hate is a letter of tolerance from a deeply inspired man with a message more urgent than ever.

The Canadian film, directed by Tal Barda and based on Dr. Abuelaish’s eponymous book, features shocking documentary footage from his life and had its Greek premiere in Kastellorizo. The film captivated both audiences and critics, winning the Bronze Stefanos Megistis, sponsored by ERT.

Dr. Abuelaish, in one of his rare European appearances, will be in Athens as a guest of Beyond Borders to present the film and engage in a discussion with the audience. The film will be screened on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 19:45. During his stay in Athens, he will seek meetings with institutions and organizations to inform and spread his message.

Who is Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish: Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish is a Palestinian-Canadian doctor and internationally recognized human rights activist and peace advocate, dedicated to the health and education of women and girls in the Middle East. Born and raised in the Jabaliya Refugee Camp in Gaza, Dr. Abuelaish has overcome numerous personal hardships, including poverty, violence, and the horrific murder of his three daughters and niece in Gaza in 2009. More recently, 21 members of his family, including nephews and cousins, were killed.

Dr. Abuelaish has been nominated five times for the Nobel Peace Prize and is known as the Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King of the Middle East, having dedicated his life to health as a vehicle for peace. His book I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor’s Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity, an international bestseller and autobiography of loss and transformation, was published in 2010. It has been translated into 23 languages and has received global recognition from critics. Triggered by the murder of his children by an Israeli airstrike on January 16, 2009, the book is also proof of his commitment to forgiveness as a solution to the conflict and a catalyst for peace.

Apart from the documentary, the story has been adapted into a theatrical performance in several languages, including German, French, Spanish, and Arabic.
Dr. Abuelaish has received numerous awards and honorary degrees, including: The Order of Ontario, The Meritorious Service Cross, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, The Governor General’s Medallion, the World Citizenship in Action Award (Canadian Branch of the Registry), the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Award of Canada, the Foundation P&V Citizenship Award, the Calgary Peace Prize, the Lombardy Region Peace Prize, and the Stavros Niarchos Prize for Survivorship.

He was named one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants, one of the 500 most powerful Arabs, and one of the 500 most influential Muslims. He was also a finalist for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Note from the director: As a French-American filmmaker born to peace activists, I am drawn to stories that challenge established political narratives. I knew that Dr. Abuelaish was a Palestinian doctor who had suffered an unimaginable tragedy and was advocating for peace. When my sister, a human rights lawyer, was an advisor in his lawsuit against the Israeli state in 2018, I had the opportunity to meet him in person. I got to know him better when I visited Toronto and spent hours with him and his children. The more I learned, the more remarkable his stance in such incredible circumstances seemed. He overcame countless obstacles in a refugee camp to become a doctor, then endured racism and suspicion from both Palestinians and Israelis while caring for their infants. He raised his eight children alone after his wife died, buried his three daughters, and then relocated his remaining five children to a new country. Amidst all this, he was a social activist promoting peace between Palestinians and Israelis, even after his daughters were killed.

Abuelaish uses his personal grief as a healing agent for a society torn apart by hatred and distrust. But most of us can’t comprehend how he remains strong and noble despite his suffering. As a documentary filmmaker, I believe my role is not only to share stories of inspiring characters but to challenge their motives and uncover all the shadows of their personalities. How does he bypass the human feelings of vengeance and hatred that everyone else would feel if they were in his place? How can we understand a man who insists on reconciliation just hours after his daughter was decapitated by an Israeli bomb? How can he educate his children, who lost their loved ones, to do the same? Is he a modern saint? Or tragically misaligned with the world around him? It is also the director’s job to place the character in the broader context surrounding him. In I Shall Not Hate, I tell a complex character story that converges with the larger narrative: The struggle for Palestinian rights, the culture of militant training in the Middle East that reinforces the cycle of violence and revenge, and the identity conflict faced by migrants in new countries.

About the director: Tal Barda is a French-American documentary filmmaker and producer, born and raised in Jerusalem. She has been recognized by the Greenhouse Film Programme and SIMA (Global Impact Media Awards) and is a fellow of the Tribeca Film Fund. Her films have been screened at international festivals and theaters worldwide. She has worked with international broadcasters such as HBO, ARTE, BBC, CBC, ZDF, and IKON. Tal’s latest project is a three-part documentary series titled Criminal file 512, which was the most popular documentary series on Israeli television in 2022. Her filmography includes Woman of Valor (nominated for the 2022 Israeli Academy Awards), 100 Million Views (YesDocu/ZDF), Family in Transition (winner of Best Film at the 2019 Doc Aviv Film Festival), and The Wonderful Kingdom of Papa Alaev (ARTE, CNC, IKON, Chanel 8, Greenhouse, Tribeca Film Fund).

Event Details

Organized by: Hellenic History Foundation (IDISME) in collaboration with the French organization Ecrans des Mondes.

Venue: Greek Film Archive (48 Iera Odos & 134-136 Megalou Alexandrou, Kerameikos Metro Station).

Admission: Free entry, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Find film stills and festival moments HERE.
Watch a short recap video from Beyond Borders 2024 HERE.
Download the detailed three-day schedule in digital format HERE.

Join us for an unforgettable cinematic experience—a journey beyond borders in Athens!