President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to pioneering Palestinian diplomat Leila Shahid, who has died at the age of 76, describing her passing as a moment of global sorrow in the ongoing struggle for Palestinian freedom.
On Thursday, Ramaphosa honoured Shahid’s decades-long contribution to diplomacy and activism, highlighting her role as a trailblazer for women in international representation.
Shahid, a Lebanese-born Palestinian, made history as the first woman ambassador of Palestine. She represented the Palestine Liberation Organisation and the Palestinian Authority in Ireland, the Netherlands and France, becoming one of the most recognisable Palestinian voices in European diplomatic circles.
Her career was rooted in both activism and intellectual work. Trained as an anthropologist, Shahid focused on preserving Palestinian cultural identity at a time when displacement and conflict threatened to erase it. She emerged as a key figure within Palestinian political structures in the 1970s, aligning closely with senior leadership and helping shape international advocacy strategies.
Over the decades, she became a central diplomatic figure for the Palestinian cause, working to build alliances across Europe and amplify global awareness of Palestinian struggles. Her long-standing partnership with Yasser Arafat placed her at the heart of the movement, culminating in her presence at his side during his final days in 2004 after nearly 50 years of collaboration.
Ramaphosa said Shahid’s death resonates far beyond Palestine, particularly at a time when the region continues to experience violence and instability.
“The passing of Leila Shahid is a moment of sadness that ripples from the ruins of a brutalised Palestine to places all over the world where we remain resolute in our solidarity with the people of Palestine in their struggle for freedom,” he said.
Ramaphosa noted that Shahid dedicated her life to exposing what she viewed as injustices faced by Palestinians, often bringing international attention to the situation on the ground.
Ramaphosa also criticised ongoing actions by Israel, saying Shahid had spent much of her life confronting what he described as violations of international law and violence against Palestinians.
“As an anthropologist, she sought to preserve the cultural history of the people of Palestine who suffered and continue to suffer recurrent attacks on their identity, dignity and political and physical security,” Ramaphosa said.
The president said her lifelong commitment to the Palestinian cause remained unwavering until her death.
“She campaigned for the freedom of Palestine until the end of her extraordinary life,” Ramaphosa said. “Her passing is a moment for appreciating the full extent of her leadership and ensuring that her vision of a free Palestine is realised in our lifetime.”
He concluded by extending condolences and honouring her legacy: “May her soul rest in peace.”
Shahid is remembered as a pioneering diplomat, intellectual and activist whose work helped shape global understanding of the Palestinian struggle.
