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Liz Tyson is head of International Relations at the Palestinian Animal League (PAL)

Last week, the internet and press was alive with outrage over the illegal killing of a lion named Cecil in Zimbabwe. Cecil, a local favorite among tourists and local people, was callously shot with a bow and arrow and left to suffer for 40 hours before his life was ended with a bullet. He was then decapitated and skinned so that his killer could take his body parts as a “trophy.” Since then, the hunter, identified as US dentist, Walter Palmer, has gone into hiding, and there have been calls for his extradition to Zimbabwe to face charges for the illegal hunt.

Conservationists and animal protectionists have suggested that Cecil’s tragic death may not be in vain as governments around the world begin to discuss the potential of banning the import of hunting “trophies,” a move which could curb the killing of more lions on the African continent. Whilst mourning the death of Cecil, the Palestinian Animal League (PAL) team that I am part of is delighted that his legacy may serve to protect other members of his species, and to prevent further mindless and cruel deaths occurring in future.

But this outrage at the killing of a lion comes with a backlash. It is difficult to avoid comparing the death of one lion to the death of other individuals, who have not been given even a fraction of the attention Cecil’s death has generated. Vegan activists took to the internet to demand that if people are so concerned about the death of Cecil, they should turn their attention to the millions of animals killed daily for food. In relation to the death of people, meanwhile, former UK MP George Galloway stated that “Palestinian blood is cheap” when he predicted that the death of 18-month-old Ali Dawashba, who was burned alive by settlers near Nablus on Friday, would be unlikely to stir the international outrage that the death of Cecil did. He is probably right.

You may have seen news stories surrounding baby Ali’s death on Friday. Unless you followed the story in detail, you might not have seen that, later that evening, during violent clashes between Palestinians and Israeli armed forces, a young man was shot. He died a few hours later in hospital. His mother, a nurse, and his father were by his side. His name was Laith -- which means “lion” in Arabic. Laith was seventeen years old and described as “carrying a smile wherever he went.” He had his whole life ahead of him and a loving family. He was buried on Saturday after his young life was cut short by a bullet. His father has supported the work of PAL and has been instrumental in establishing a volunteer group for us in Bir Zeit University, where he works. He is a personal friend of our team, a friend of the organization, and a staunch supporter of our work for animals. Laith’s cousin works with us as a volunteer. Our hearts go out to the family as they begin to move forward without their beloved boy.

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