Renowned Lebanese novelist and Palestinian advocate Elias Khoury passed away at the age of 76 after battling illness for several months. Khoury was known for his dedication to the Palestinian cause and his extensive body of work in Arabic literature, which touched on themes of collective memory, war, and exile. Many of his works were translated into several languages, reaching a global audience.
One of Khoury’s most famous novels, Gate of the Sun, depicted the story of Palestinian refugees expelled from their homes during the 1948 war, known as the Nakba. He also wrote about Lebanon’s civil war in novels like Little Mountain and Yalo. Throughout his career, Khoury taught literature at universities around the world and was actively involved in promoting Palestinian culture and history.
Born in Beirut in 1948, Khoury was a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause from a young age and served as the co-managing editor of the PLO-linked Palestinian Affairs magazine. Despite his declining health in recent years, Khoury continued to write and share his thoughts on social media until his final days.
In his last article, Khoury expressed admiration for the resilience of the people of Gaza amid ongoing conflict, reflecting on the enduring struggle of Palestinians for justice and freedom. The passing of Elias Khoury marks the loss of a literary giant and a unwavering champion of the Palestinian cause, whose legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.
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