Eyal Waldman spent years trying to forge peace through business, hiring Palestinian engineers, opening a design center in Gaza, and donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to a hospital there. This week, pro-Palestinian protesters at the Venice Biennale screamed “murderer” at him anyway.
Waldman, co-founder of Mellanox Technologies (sold to Nvidia for nearly $7 billion in 2019), employed around 200 Palestinian engineers through his company, including roughly 20 in Gaza. In 2020, he donated $360,000 to build an oncology ward at a Gaza hospital. He long championed economic cooperation as a path to coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.
On October 7, 2023, that worldview collided with unimaginable loss. His 24-year-old daughter, Danielle Waldman, and her partner Noam Shai were murdered by Hamas terrorists at the Nova music festival. They were killed while trying to escape.
Despite the personal tragedy, Waldman has continued advocating for a two-state solution. He has pushed for rebuilding Gaza under new leadership.
The confrontation unfolded this week during previews at the Venice Biennale, where an Israeli artist’s pavilion has drawn protests and calls for Israel’s exclusion over the Gaza war. Video shows Waldman extending his hand toward a protester amid “Free Palestine” chants. The protester recoiled, and the crowd grew hostile as security rushed Waldman inside for safety.
The moment has gone viral, highlighting the painful irony for a man who once saw tech jobs and partnerships as tools for peace. Waldman, who received Israel’s prestigious Israel Prize in 2024, remains active in tech investing and public calls for pragmatic solutions on both sides.
