Leila Khaled

Leila Khaled (born 1944) is a Palestinian political activist and former member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), known for her participation in aircraft hijackings during the late 1960s. Born in Haifa to a Palestinian family displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Khaled grew up with a strong sense of Palestinian nationalist identity. In 1969, she became one of the first women to hijack a commercial aircraft, targeting an El Al flight as a means of drawing international attention to Palestinian grievances. Following the hijacking, she became an internationally recognized figure, both celebrated by some Palestinian and left-wing supporters and condemned by others for her militant methods. After her capture and release in a prisoner exchange, she transitioned from direct militant action to political activism and public speaking. Throughout subsequent decades, she has served as a spokesperson and representative for various Palestinian organizations, advocating for Palestinian rights and independence through diplomatic and activist channels. Her story represents the evolution of Palestinian activism and the complex history of resistance movements in the Middle East. Though her militant past remains controversial, she is regarded as a significant figure in Palestinian political history and remains active in advocacy work.