Sawt Falasteen - First woman envoy for Palestine dies in France: family

"She died today," her sister Zeina told AFP, without providing further details.

Born in Lebanon in 1949, Shahid was the first woman to represent the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) abroad, beginning her career in Ireland before also becoming representative in the Netherlands.

She served as envoy in France and later as the representative at the European Union.

She was one of the first Palestinians to establish contacts with Israelis who were in favour of peace efforts.

"Leila Shahid, the iconic ambassador of Palestine, has left us. This is a huge loss for Palestine and for the world that believes in justice," Hala Abou-Hassira, the Palestinian representative in France, said on X.

Shahid's body was found on Wednesday in the southern village of La Leque, where she lived, a source close to the investigation told AFP.

According to initial findings, the former diplomat, who had reportedly been ill for several years, apparently died by suicide, the source said.

An investigation to determine the cause of death has been launched.

Karim Amellal, a French-Algerian author and scholar, said Shahid was a "strong and dignified voice for Palestine in France, an indefatigable advocate for peace."

"She enabled me to meet Yasser Arafat and opened the doors to an era of hope, that of the Oslo Accords," he said on X, referring to the late Palestinian leader. "A time that feels so distant today. An era, alas, that has passed."

France formally recognised a Palestinian state in September last year.

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Q.Najjar--SF-PST