Pro-Palestinian Protesters Confront Bereaved Israeli Peace Activist at Venice Biennale

Pro-Palestinian protesters confronted Israeli businessman Eyal Waldman yesterday outside the Israeli pavilion at the Venice Biennale, shouting “murderer” and anti-Israel curses after realizing he was Israeli. Waldman is the father of Danielle Waldman, who was murdered by Hamas terrorists at the Nova music festival on October 7.

Waldman has spent years promoting economic cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians. Long before the war, he employed Palestinians alongside Israelis through his high-tech companies, including workers from Gaza and Judea and Samaria, and publicly advocated coexistence initiatives.

At the Venice Biennale, pro-Palestinian protesters screamed “murderer” and “Fuck Israel” at Eyal Waldman - one of Israel’s most prominent advocates for peace and coexistence, who deliberately built parts of his high-tech business in Judea & Samaria and employed Palestinians… pic.twitter.com/qzuF7GCUJr

— raz sauber - רז זאובר (@raz_sauber_) May 6, 2026

Video from the scene showed Waldman approaching a protester and attempting to speak calmly with him. The protester initially spoke with him briefly, but began shouting after understanding he was Israeli. Demonstrators around them waved Palestinian flags and chanted anti-Israel slogans outside the pavilion.

Waldman, founder and former CEO of Mellanox Technologies, employed more than 200 Palestinians over the years, including 20 engineers in Gaza. According to previous interviews and reports, he also raised and donated approximately $360,000 for an oncology ward at a Gaza hospital and worked to build mixed Israeli-Palestinian professional teams.

On October 7, Hamas terrorists murdered Waldman’s daughter Danielle and her boyfriend while they were attending the Nova music festival near the Gaza border. The couple had gone to the festival to dance and celebrate. They did not return home.

The protest outside the Israeli pavilion was part of a broader anti-Israel demonstration during Biennale events in Venice. According to Italian and Israeli reports, hundreds of protesters gathered near the pavilion carrying Palestinian flags and distributing leaflets accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. Some demonstrators shouted “Free Palestine” while others held signs criticizing Israel’s participation in the international art exhibition.

Israeli security personnel temporarily closed the pavilion for roughly half an hour during the protest before reopening it after demonstrators moved away from the entrance area. Israeli artist Belu-Simion Fainaru, representing Israel at the Biennale, was reportedly inside the pavilion during the incident.