The departure was Elias KhouryThe Lebanese short story writer, novelist, critic and playwright, was a shock to his fans in the Lebanese cultural community who witnessed his many literary and journalistic careers.
The news of Khoury’s passing topped social media platforms and various media outlets.
A source close to the deceased’s family told Sky News Arabia that “Elias Khoury died after a struggle with a terminal illness. During his illness, during which he spent most of his days in the hospital, he was suffering because of the war of extermination that the Palestinian people are being subjected to.”
Lebanese and Arab cultural circles mourned the Lebanese novelist and writer Khoury, who passed away on Sunday morning at the age of 76 after suffering from illness, leaving behind a large number of novels that made him one of the most prominent Arab novelists, who wrote literary and journalistic articles that mostly revolved around the Palestinian tragedy, and among them he became particularly famous for “Sun Gate“, which depicted the Sabra and Shatila massacre that took place in Beirut on September 16, 1982 under the Israeli occupation of the first Arab capital. The novel was translated into many languages, and in 2004 it was turned into a film directed by the Egyptian director Youssef Nasrallah.
Everyone’s friend
Artist Ahmed Qabour said in an interview with Sky News Arabia, “Elias Khoury believed in his life and gave a sense of chivalry to his death, a chivalry that enhances the meaning of life.”
Qabour continued, “Khoury’s absence reinforces the value of a life filled with a high sense of humanity. He was a friend to everyone and a passionate follower of all the issues of peoples and humanity.”
He concluded, “It is precious for a tear to fall for Elias Khoury, because it is for a noble man who said no to all forms of injustice with great pride.”
The most defender of the Palestinian cause
“Elias Khoury headed the first management position of the Samir Kassir Foundation, and was even one of its contributors to its founding,” said Jad Shahrour, media officer for the Samir Kassir Foundation.
He continued, “Khoury played a major role in shaping the role of the professional institution. He followed its activities and attended its conferences, especially during the October 17 Revolution. Age or experience did not prevent him from participating with the young generation in the squares.”
He added, “Khoury addressed people with his novels, and defended the Palestinian cause more than anyone else, and was always with human rights initiatives of all kinds.”
Writer and researcher Mona Fayyad told Sky News Arabia, “We were colleagues at Al-Nahar newspaper. Elias was one of the most important writers who highlighted the Palestinian cause, especially in his novel “Bab Al-Shams,” which tells the story of Palestine. Through it, he conveyed painful stories about humanity and was known for the cause of the Palestinian people.”
She continued, “He was a skilled and cooperative journalist and writer who appreciated the value of the writer in the era of paper writing.”
Fayyad added, “Elias Khoury has always been keen to highlight issues of freedom, most notably the Palestinian issue, in the generation of the written word on paper, which is our generation that we lived through.”
She concluded, “Today, Lebanon lost a great literary figure who left his mark in various fields and in most of Lebanon’s newspapers. The fighter passed away at a time when the Palestinian cause was in dire need of him.”
