Leila Shahid (1949-2026) Biography, Family

Quick Info

Profession	Diplomat, Anthropologist
Nationality	Palestinian
Date of Birth	13/07/1949
Age	76 years (died on 18, Feb, 2026)
Birthplace	Beirut, Lebanon
Date of Death	18/02/2026

Latest News about Leila Shahid

18/02/2026

Leila Shahid, the pioneering Palestinian diplomat and first woman ambassador of Palestine, passed away on 18 February 2026 in Lussan, France, at the age of 76. Her distinguished career spanning over 25 years saw her represent Palestinian interests across Ireland, the Netherlands, France, and the European Union, earning widespread recognition as a consummate professional and independent critical voice in Palestinian diplomacy.

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Bio/Wiki

Profession(s)	Diplomat Anthropologist
Known for	Being the first woman ambassador of Palestine

Physical Stats & More

Eye Color	Light Brown
Hair Color	Light Brown

Educational Qualification(s)

College/University	American University of Beirut, Lebanon
Educational Qualification	Anthropology Psychology Sociology

Relationships & More

Marital Status	Married
Husband/Spouse	Mohammed Berrada (Moroccan writer)

Family

Father	Munib Shahid (Chairman of Hematology and Oncology at the Faculty of Medicine of the American University of Beirut)
Mother	Husseini Shahid (a teacher, writer, scholar of Palestinian embroidery)
Siblings	2 Sisters, including Zeina

Career

Major Designation(s)	PLO representative in Ireland (1989–1990) PLO representative in the Netherlands (1990–1993) Delegate General of Palestine in France (1993–2006) General Delegate of Palestine in the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg (2006–2014) General Delegate of Palestine in France (1993–2006)
Career Highlights	Leila Shahid was the first female Palestinian ambassador, starting her career with the Palestine Liberation Organisation. She represented Palestine in various international capacities and worked passionately for Palestinian interests in Europe for over 25 years. In 2004, she spent time with Yasser Arafat during his last days and continued advocating for peace in the region. She was director of the Revue d'Etudes Palestiniennes, a French-language periodical published by the Institute for Palestine Studies, during the 1980s. She strongly supported and advocated for the Oslo peace process negotiated by Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Major Designation(s)

PLO representative in Ireland (1989–1990)
PLO representative in the Netherlands (1990–1993)
Delegate General of Palestine in France (1993–2006)
General Delegate of Palestine in the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg (2006–2014)
General Delegate of Palestine in France (1993–2006)

Career Highlights

Leila Shahid was the first female Palestinian ambassador, starting her career with the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
She represented Palestine in various international capacities and worked passionately for Palestinian interests in Europe for over 25 years.
In 2004, she spent time with Yasser Arafat during his last days and continued advocating for peace in the region.
She was director of the Revue d'Etudes Palestiniennes, a French-language periodical published by the Institute for Palestine Studies, during the 1980s.
She strongly supported and advocated for the Oslo peace process negotiated by Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. She was the great-great-granddaughter of Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, yet she did not adhere to this faith.
2. Her father was excommunicated from the Baháʼí community for opposing its leadership.
3. Leila grew up in exile in Lebanon along with her two sisters.
4. She worked in Palestinian refugee camps before pursuing her doctorate in anthropology in Paris.
5. Leila was appointed the president of the Palestinian Students Union in France in 1976.
6. She notably returned to Beirut during the Sabra and Shatila massacre in 1982, which prompted literary documentation by Jean Genet.
7. Shahid promoted the Russell Tribunal on Palestine, advocating for Palestinian rights and justice.
8. At age 18, she abandoned her protected bourgeois youth in Beirut to join the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
9. She was elected president of the Union of Palestinian Students in France and met Yasser Arafat, with whom she forged a lasting relationship.
10. She notably returned to Beirut during the Sabra and Shatila massacre in September 1982, which prompted literary documentation by Jean Genet.
11. She was fluent in Arabic, French, and English.
12. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described her as a model of diplomacy committed to the values of freedom, justice and peace.

Leila Shahid Diplomat, Anthropologist Palestinian Beirut, Lebanon