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Latest News: Malala Yousafzai Calls for Full Cease-Fire in the Israel-Hamas War
Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has once again called for peace in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, urging for a full cease-fire and increased humanitarian aid. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on November 24, she expressed relief over the temporary cease-fire, stating, “Tonight, I feel relief for the women, children, and young people reunited with their families, and for the pause in the bombardment of Gaza.” She emphasized the importance of speaking out for children in Gaza and urged continued efforts to end the “needless suffering.”
Yousafzai, 26, who has long advocated for peace, began calling for an end to the violence shortly after the conflict escalated on October 7. Her personal history of surviving violence in Pakistan, including an assassination attempt by the Taliban, has shaped her global activism for human rights. Recently, she donated $300,000 to organizations supporting Palestinians and encouraged signing a petition to stop attacks on schools and release child hostages.
Malala Yousafzai: A Champion for Education and Peace
Malala Yousafzai rose to international prominence for her courageous activism, particularly in advocating for girls’ education. At age 15, she survived a targeted shooting by the Taliban for her outspoken stance against the group’s efforts to deny education to girls in Pakistan’s Swat Valley. Despite the life-threatening attack in 2012, Yousafzai has continued her work, becoming the youngest Nobel Peace Prize recipient in 2014.
Through her nonprofit organization, the Malala Fund, she works globally to ensure girls’ access to education. Her activism extends beyond education to broader issues of social justice and human rights, exemplified by her recent calls for peace in conflict zones. Her memoir, I Am Malala, and her role in producing the 2022 Oscar-nominated documentary Stranger at the Gate highlight her commitment to amplifying stories of injustice and hope.
Early Life and Activism
Born on July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Pakistan, Malala grew up in a region initially known for its natural beauty and tourism but later became a Taliban stronghold. Encouraged by her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, an educator, Malala began advocating for girls’ right to education at a young age. Her early speeches and blogs for the BBC, under the pseudonym Gul Makai, detailed the oppressive conditions under Taliban rule, drawing international attention.
In 2011, Malala was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize and awarded Pakistan’s National Youth Peace Prize. Despite receiving death threats from the Taliban, she continued her activism, until the brutal attack in 2012 thrust her into the global spotlight.
The Taliban Attack and Aftermath
On October 9, 2012, Malala was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman while riding a school bus. The attack left her in critical condition, leading to her transfer to the UK for medical treatment. Remarkably, she survived and made a full recovery, although she required multiple surgeries.
The global support that followed Malala’s recovery was overwhelming, further propelling her advocacy work. Despite continued threats from the Taliban, she remains an outspoken proponent for education and peace. The 2012 attack led to the eventual arrest of 10 militants, though most were acquitted, and the primary shooter, Ehsanullah Ehsan, escaped custody in 2020.
Malala’s unwavering commitment to her cause continues to inspire people around the world, and her call for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict reinforces her message of peace and justice.
U.N. Speech on Malala Day
On July 12, 2013—her 16th birthday—Malala Yousafzai delivered her first public speech since surviving an attack by the Taliban. Speaking at the United Nations, she emphasized her commitment to education and women’s rights, urging global leaders to promote peace and prosperity, and to fund mandatory education for all children. Yousafzai also called on activists to continue their efforts and asked individuals to confront and end their prejudices. Reflecting on the Taliban’s attempt to silence her, she said, “They thought that the bullets would silence us. But they failed… Weakness, fear, and hopelessness died. Strength, power, and courage were born.”
In recognition of her advocacy, the United Nations declared July 12 as “Malala Day.” U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, speaking at the event, praised Malala’s bravery and dedication to education, stating, “No child should have to die for going to school. Nowhere should teachers fear to teach or children fear to learn.”
Malala Fund
Two months after the attack on Yousafzai, UNESCO and the Pakistani government established the Malala Fund for Girls’ Education. In 2013, Yousafzai and her father launched a similarly named nonprofit, the Malala Fund, which aims to provide girls worldwide with 12 years of free, safe education. The Fund supports the Education Champion Network—originally called the Gulmakai Network, after the pseudonym Malala used while writing for the BBC—which empowers local activists in countries where girls struggle to access secondary education. This network now spans 10 countries, including Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Lebanon.
In July 2015, for her 18th birthday, Yousafzai opened a school for Syrian refugee girls in Lebanon, funded by the Malala Fund. The school offers education to nearly 200 girls aged 14 to 18. During the school’s opening, Malala stated, “Today on my first day as an adult, on behalf of the world’s children, I demand of leaders we must invest in books instead of bullets.”
In January 2018, Apple announced a partnership with the Malala Fund to extend educational opportunities to over 100,000 girls worldwide. Apple pledged financial and technological support, along with assistance in curriculum development and policy research. To date, the Malala Fund has invested more than $47 million across various initiatives.
Awards and Recognition
Yousafzai has received numerous awards and honors for her activism. In 2014, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, alongside Indian children’s rights advocate Kailash Satyarthi, for their shared efforts to advance the right of all children to education. At 17, Yousafzai became the youngest Nobel laureate in history. The award marked her second nomination for the prestigious honor.
Upon receiving the Nobel Prize, then–Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declared her “the pride of Pakistan,” while U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described her as “a brave and gentle advocate of peace.”
Yousafzai’s other notable honors include:
- The 2011 National Youth Peace Prize, later renamed in her honor,
- The 2012 Mother Teresa Memorial Award,
- France’s 2013 Simone de Beauvoir Prize for Women’s Freedom,
- The European Parliament’s 2013 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, and
- The 2018 Gleitsman Award from Harvard University’s Center for Public Leadership.
In April 2017, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Yousafzai as the youngest-ever U.N. Messenger of Peace to promote girls’ education. Later that year, she received honorary Canadian citizenship, becoming the youngest person to be granted the distinction.
Publications and Documentary
Yousafzai has authored several books, starting with her bestselling memoir I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, released in 2013. She followed it up with a young readers edition and a children’s version in 2018. Her other books include Malala’s Magic Pencil (2017) and My Name Is Malala (2022), aimed at younger audiences. In 2018, she published We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World, sharing her own experiences and those of girls she met in refugee camps.
In 2015, Yousafzai’s life was featured in the documentary He Named Me Malala, directed by Davis Guggenheim. The film provides an intimate look into her personal life and unwavering commitment to girls’ education.
In April 2023, Yousafzai announced her work on a new memoir, described by her publisher as a “breathtaking story of recovery and search of identity, a candid exploration of her coming-of-age in the public spotlight.”
Return to Pakistan and Recent Endeavors
In March 2018, Yousafzai returned to Pakistan for the first time since the 2012 attack. During her emotional visit, she met with then–Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and spoke about her dream of returning to her homeland. She also visited her childhood home and school.
Yousafzai graduated from Oxford University in June 2020 with a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics. The following year, she partnered with Apple to produce original programming through her production company, Extracurricular, which focuses on telling stories that inspire and empower. She also served as an executive producer for the 2022 Oscar-nominated short documentary Stranger at the Gate, attending the 2023 Oscars ceremony.
Despite the fame and attention, Yousafzai has remained humble, addressing a light-hearted Oscars moment with host Jimmy Kimmel by tweeting, “Treat people with kindness.” This reflects the grace with which she continues to handle the global spotlight, remaining dedicated to her mission of ensuring education for all.
Husband
While attending Oxford in the summer of 2018, Malala Yousafzai met Asser Malik, who was visiting friends on campus. Despite Yousafzai’s earlier reservations about marriage—she once shared in a 2021 essay that she believed she wouldn’t marry until at least 35, if at all—the couple married in November 2021 in Birmingham.
The two share strong educational backgrounds. Like Yousafzai, Malik earned a degree in economics and political science in 2012. They also bonded over a shared love for cricket, with Malik working for Pakistan’s cricket governing body and co-founding an amateur league.
In 2021, Yousafzai reflected on her relationship with Malik, noting how their time together allowed her to realize she could “remain true to my values of equality, fairness, and integrity” while being in a partnership. “I still don’t have all the answers for the challenges facing women—but I believe that I can enjoy friendship, love, and equality in marriage,” she told British Vogue.