Khalil, a dual Dutch-Lebanese citizen born in Nigeria, transformed her grandmother’s home into a conservation hub in 1999. Known for her fierce advocacy against beach privatization and dynamite fishing, she remained at her post even as conflict escalated. Friends and colleagues describe her as a woman who treated the coastline as a living entity, dedicating her life to the survival of hatchlings and the preservation of biodiversity.
In section Newsroom
Mona Khalil, Lebanon's Dedicated Turtle Conservationist, Dies After Strike
The Orange House in al-Mansouri, a sanctuary for endangered sea turtles, was leveled on June 4, leaving its 76-year-old steward mortally wounded. Mona Khalil, who spent decades protecting the southern Lebanese coastline, suffered severe burns during the attack and later died, prompting mourning among environmentalists and sharp condemnation of the strike.
While the Israel Defense Forces stated that Khalil was not a target and claimed no knowledge of a specific strike causing her injuries, the destruction of her site has drawn outrage. Journalist Marwa Osman noted that the Orange House was a well-known, non-military landmark. The incident follows a pattern of intense aerial activity in the region, where thousands have been killed and over a million people displaced since March. For those who worked alongside her, the loss of Khalil represents the silencing of a rare voice whose only weapon was compassion for the natural world.
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