In January 2009, an Israeli shell was fired directly into his daughters' bedroom in Gaza, killing three of them.

[3] Abuelaish, who had already been involved with the peace movement by this time, refused to let the killings make him hate or seek revenge, instead publicly arguing for co-existence between the Palestinians and Israelis.

[3] A review in The Daily Telegraph called the book "amazing",[6] and according to the National Catholic Reporter, "Abuelaish's story does not demonize Israelis" but "offers an Islamic and medical perspective... to respond to the blood and tears of our time with a mixture of toil and sweat in pursuit of the common good.

"[7] Iain McClure, a psychiatrist at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh states that "every doctor should read this book" and notes that Abuelaish does not deny the anger he feels at the events, but recognizes the need for an "immunisation programme" against the "disease of hatred" through "respect, dignity, and equality".

[8] The book was adapted into a play by the Mosaic Theater Company of DC in 2016, it was performed in Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitles, and was directed by Shay Pitovsky.