Mourners gathered in Beirut to honor Mona Khalil, a Lebanese conservationist who died from wounds sustained in an Israeli strike on her home. Khalil, 76, dedicated over two decades to protecting sea turtles along Lebanon's southern coast.
The death of Mona Khalil highlights the human cost of the ongoing conflict in southern Lebanon, impacting not only geopolitical tensions but also the lives of civilians and dedicated conservationists working to protect natural heritage.
Mourners gathered in Beirut on Sunday to honor Mona Khalil, a Lebanese conservationist who died after succumbing to wounds sustained in an Israeli strike on her home on the country’s southern coast. Khalil, 76, had dedicated more than two decades to protecting sea turtles along Lebanon’s coastline.
Khalil’s home in the village of Mansouri, known as the Orange House, was a conservation hub and ecotourism site that served as a refuge for endangered loggerhead and green sea turtles. News of her death prompted an outpouring of grief from environmentalists and volunteers who worked with her.
Fadia Jomaa, a journalist and environmental activist who volunteered with Khalil, described her as a maternal figure. Jomaa recounted that Khalil had initially refused to leave her home during a previous conflict in 2024, only evacuating when persuaded by the Lebanese army. Despite holding Dutch citizenship and having lived in the Netherlands, Khalil chose to remain in Lebanon and at her home.
On June 4, an Israeli strike hit her home, critically injuring Khalil and her domestic worker. The intended target of the strike was unclear, and the Israeli military had not immediately responded to a request for comment. Khalil died from her wounds two weeks later.
Johnny Baaklini, a former volunteer, called Khalil’s death a great loss for conservation in Lebanon. Both Jomaa and Baaklini remembered Khalil treating conservation advocates like her own children. Khalil’s work focused on patrolling Al-Mansouri beach to protect nesting turtles and relocating vulnerable nests. The Orange House also operated as a small beachfront bed-and-breakfast, organizing sea turtle hatchling viewings for visitors.