Shay was a tank commander in the 77th Battalion, 7th Brigade, Malkot Hermon Company. He was one of the first to encounter Hamas near Nahal Oz as they invaded Israel on that Black Shabbat. Shay and his crew managed to hold off the terrorists but there were just too many. A blast mortally injured two of his crew and caused Shay to fall off the tank. Hamas then kidnapped him to Gaza. It was not confirmed until January 21st that Shay had been killed.

Shay’s brother Ben reflected “I am not ready to have Shay returned to me in exchange for other soldiers risking their lives. I don’t want to be the one to make another family part of the group that no family ever wants to join.”

Shay’s family also don’t want his return to endanger Israeli civilians present or future.

Shay was 19 years old and from Giv’at Avni in northern Israel. He was a 1.92 metre tall beam of light and a top volleyball player. He played for years with the team in Eilabun, an Arab village near his hometown. For several years, he was the only Israeli Jew on the team. Shay studied Arabic and strongly believed in coexistence. He cared passionately about bringing Arabs and Jews together in Israel.

I am Shay’s Great Aunt and I live in Brighton & Hove.

They are us and we are them.