In a heart-wrenching twist of fate, a nurse whose daughter was tragically murdered during the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel found herself treating one of the four hostages rescued by Israeli troops in a daring mission on Saturday, June 8. Mali Zender, head nurse at the ‘Sheba’ Tel-HaShomer Medical Center, provided medical care to 41-year-old Shlomi Ziv, who was one of the hostages saved from captivity.
The emotional connection between Mali and Shlomi deepened as it was revealed that Mali’s 22-year-old daughter, Noa Zender, was a victim of the same brutal attack that led to Shlomi’s abduction. Noa was abducted from the Supernova music festival, where Shlomi was working security, and tragically lost her life at the hands of Hamas. The pain of losing a child was shared by Mali and Shlomi, creating a poignant bond between them during his treatment.
Despite the heartbreaking circumstances, Mali showed incredible strength and compassion as she cared for Shlomi and the other hostages who were rescued. The mission to save them was a high-risk operation carried out by Israeli special forces, resulting in the tragic loss of IDF commander Arnon Zamora. The successful rescue of Shlomi and his fellow captives brought a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness of the past events.
As Mali continues to heal from the loss of her daughter, her act of kindness towards Shlomi serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience and humanity that can emerge from even the most devastating tragedies. Their shared experience highlights the interconnectedness of lives touched by violence and the healing power of compassion in the face of adversity.