Sharabi’s Mission to Memorialize and Support Families

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 2, 2026

Eli Sharabi, after being released from captivity, launched a global campaign advocating for the freedom of other hostages and later partnered with the Shalva organization to honor his wife and daughters, who were killed. His collaboration with Shalva resulted in a dedicated memorial that reflects his personal connection to the center and his commitment to creating a meaningful tribute.

After his release from captivity, Eli Sharabi spent 10 days recovering in the hospital before embarking on a global campaign to advocate for the freedom of other hostages still held. In his efforts, he met with numerous world leaders to raise awareness and seek support.

Several months following his release, Sharabi approached Shalva, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities, with a personal request to name a room in memory of his wife and daughters, who were killed. According to Shalva’s representative Samuels, Sharabi expressed a strong desire to be meaningfully involved with the organization. “I speak around the world, but there’s only one place that I want to actually be part of and create something and work together with. This is at Shalva,” Sharabi reportedly said.

The connection between Sharabi and Shalva traces back to a visit he made to the organization prior to his captivity. At that time, Sharabi was attending a conference in his capacity as a chief financial officer and toured the facility. He shared the experience with his family, emphasizing the organization’s unique approach to special education. His family, all involved in special education themselves, had asked to visit the center but had not been able to do so.

Sharabi’s determination to honor his family through Shalva became evident shortly after his release. Two weeks after leaving Gaza, he told his wife, Malki, that Shalva was the only location where he wanted a memorial for his murdered wife and daughters. Malki then invited him to visit the organization together, and several months later, Sharabi returned to Shalva.

During the visit, Malki showed him a specific area in the organization’s lobby that she envisioned dedicating to Sharabi’s family. Sharabi provided a photograph of himself with his wife and daughters, from which an artist created a painting. He also contributed personalized wording for the memorial wall. The finished installation, which includes decorative butterflies added by the organization, was completed several months ago.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.