For over twenty-five years, Mona Khalil dedicated herself to the conservation of endangered sea turtles on a beach near Tyre, Lebanon. Alongside managing a guesthouse, she ensured the safety of the turtles’ eggs and helped hatchlings reach the Mediterranean Sea safely, away from predators.

Her work united various groups, bringing attention to the turtle conservation cause. Despite wartime disruptions in southern Lebanon, Ms. Khalil remained steadfast in her conservation mission.

On June 4, amidst ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Mona Khalil was injured in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon. Tragically, she succumbed to her injuries days later at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. Her friend, Fadia Jomaa, shared the news of her passing.

Mona Khalil, who was 76, is remembered by her sister, Amal Khalil, as both resilient and kind. Amal voiced her sorrow, saying, “Inside, I am angry.”

The conflict between the Israeli military and Hezbollah has resulted in over 4,000 casualties, endangering an already fragile peace agreement between the United States and Iran.

Mona Khalil’s origins trace back to Lebanese parents in Lagos, Nigeria. She later resided in the Netherlands, where she spent more than ten years and worked as a porcelain restorer.