Dr. Akram Qwaider
Dr. Akram Qwaider, an academic and business consultant, could not stand idly by in the face of the suffering of his displaced people in southern Gaza. He dedicated himself to serving them and alleviating their pain under these exceptional circumstances created by the war, which turned their lives into an unbearable hell and plunged them into harsh living conditions.
A Gazan Family
Dr. Qwaider was born in the Al-Daraj neighborhood of Gaza City. He comes from a prominent Gazan family; his father was a merchant and respected figure. He was raised in a home that upheld religious teachings and Palestinian national customs and traditions. He calls for strengthening the resilience of our people in Gaza and preventing the forced displacement of our people through the fair distribution of aid, ensuring it reaches all segments of society and sustains their lives and the lives of their children, who are enduring the horrors of displacement and facing the most difficult living conditions known to humankind.
Stopping the Deteriorating Situation
Dr. Akram Qwaider, known for his straightforward manner, kind demeanor, and pleasant company, is committed to achieving this goal. He aims to ensure that aid reaches everyone as much as possible and to halt the deteriorating situation caused by the sale of aid in the markets. He emphasizes that international and donor organizations provide this aid as support to all segments of the population without discrimination. He calls for holding those responsible for selling the aid accountable, as they are responsible for the people's starvation, and demands that everyone fulfill their responsibilities.
95% Displaced
Qwaider, a leader in the Fatah movement, states: "95% of our Palestinian Arab people in Gaza have become displaced and are in dire need of assistance. The failure to distribute this aid equitably and fairly is one of the most significant challenges plaguing the lives of the displaced in the southern Gaza Strip and those besieged in the north." He affirms the importance of preserving Yasser Arafat's legacy by following his approach with the people, and that national unity is the path to freedom, with the land and people united behind the legitimate leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas.
Community Contributions
It is worth noting that Qwaider has a distinguished record of community contributions. He and his colleagues founded the Gaza Hashim Charitable Society to assist the needy and impoverished residents of Gaza. He dedicated considerable effort to establishing the society as a bridge for charitable activity between citizens and Arab and international charitable organizations. He also co-founded the Al-Daraj Sports Club, the Salah Khalaf Cultural and Social Center in the Bani Amer neighborhood of Gaza, and the Khalil Al-Wazir Cultural Center in Gaza.
Educational Futures
Qwaider was also keen to ensure the continuity of education for students, university students, and small business owners in the Gaza Strip during the war, so they would not lose their educational future. He encouraged them to continue their studies by any means available, even from tents, drawing on his extensive academic experience as a professor at several Arab and Palestinian universities. Qwaider emphasizes the necessity of entrusting many daily life issues to community leaders, elders, and reformers to fill the void left by the absence of effective authority on the ground, and to prevent the displaced community from descending into lawlessness. This stems from his personality and experience as a consultant in international relations and cooperation, as well as in business administration and good governance.
A Rich Experience in India
It is worth noting that Qwaider was a member of the General Union of Palestinian Students in India (GUPS) and a prominent leader in the Fatah movement in India. He attended Aligarh Muslim University in India, where he earned his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in business administration, specializing in entrepreneurship and good governance, with distinction.
He contributed, along with a group of colleagues, to the establishment of the Palestinian-Indian Friendship Association, aiming to strengthen and develop Indian-Palestinian relations at both the official and popular levels. He previously served as the Director of International Cooperation for the Palestinian-Indian Friendship Association. He also contributed, along with his fellow graduates and student leaders, to establishing the Association of Graduates of Indian Universities and Institutes to help Palestinian graduates from Indian universities find employment and integrate them into Palestinian institutions.
Qwaider possesses a wealth of international connections, particularly in the Indian subcontinent, with civil society organizations, professional associations, NGOs, unions, and political parties. Over 30 years, he has successfully leveraged these connections to serve the Palestinian people.
Continuous Meetings
He regularly meets with official and popular Indian delegations during their visits to Gaza, discussing ways to strengthen relations, leverage Indian expertise in IT, and revitalize cultural exchange through festivals and cultural weeks in both countries. He also explores avenues for developing academic and commercial ties between two friendly nations rich in civilization and history. Upon returning to Palestine, the late President Arafat appointed him to the General Information Service (SIS) at the Presidency.
A successful family
Qwaider also has a successful family. He is married to Dr. Amal Al-Wazir, a Palestinian academic and journalist who is active in the field of supporting and empowering women. She is one of the Fatah cadres in the eastern Gaza region. She enjoys great popularity among segments of society, especially among young women, and enjoys prominent respect among volunteers and workers in the field of civil institutions. She achieved high success in the primaries in the Gaza governorates for the previous legislative elections. He has three sons: the eldest, Muhammad, studies computer engineering; the middle son, Yasser, studies medicine at Al-Azhar University in Gaza; and the youngest, Samer, studies mechanical engineering in Egypt.