06 April,2009 10:29 AM IST | | Agencies
A Palestinian doctor who braved tragedy and favoured reconciliation with Israel despite losing three daughters in a shelling by the Jewish state's army on his house in Gaza has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Ezzeldeen Abu al-Aish received a letter from the Nobel Committee officially declaring him a nominee for the prestigious award. His nomination has been also welcomed by Israel. "I received the news at the end of a meeting with the president of the European parliament while I was visiting Belgium, where I was made an honourary citizen," said the doctor.
One of the most dramatic and tragic stories to emerge from 22 days of Israeli offensive against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip that ended in January occured on January 16 when three daughters and a niece of Abu al-Aish died as a result of shelling by Israel's Army.
He would dedicate the prize to the simple people on both sides, Israeli and Palestinian, in the event that he won. The two people "were destined to live together". "I wouldn't call my first response joy. Personally it is not joyous, but it does encourage me to hope for the two people. This prize will make my tragedy into something positive for the human race. It is a victory for intelligence, a victory for hope for positive change for our two people," he said.u00a0
