Anton Abu Akleh, born in Jerusalem in 1963 to Palestinian parents, had only one sister, Shireen. Anton was raised in Jerusalem where he attended St. Georges School and graduated from Bethlehem University with a Diploma in Travel and Tourism. Abu Akleh worked in the travel business to support his father in his travel agency in Ramallah before joining the United Nations to work as an Administrative Officer and served in several countries in Africa and the Middle East.