Shlomo Artzi Honors Fallen IDF Officer Whose Organs Saved Six Lives

Singer Shlomo Artzi dedicated his song "King of the World" to the memory of Captain Shahar Gamliel, an Israeli officer who was killed in Lebanon, during a performance at Beit Gabriel on Saturday night. Artzi paused the show to tell the audience about Gamliel, a 23-year-old officer in the Egoz Unit, who was mortally wounded by an explosive drone in Lebanon in early June and died on June 6. Gamliel, who grew up in the Golan Heights and was from Moshav Natur, was a third-generation soldier.

Artzi explained that Gamliel's family donated all of his organs, which saved the lives of six people. Gamliel's parents and brother were present at the performance, and Artzi acknowledged them, stating, "I see you." The audience applauded, and Gamliel's family was deeply moved.

Shahar's mother, Leah Gamliel, described the tribute as "very moving" and thanked Artzi and his band for a "empowering and meaningful evening." She added, "A very strong moment for us was when the entire audience applauded our Shahar, the hero. The song dedicated to Shahar was precise and moving."

One of the recipients of Gamliel's organs was seven-and-a-half-year-old Bel Finkelstein from Rishon LeZion, who received a liver transplant. She was born with a rare genetic syndrome and had been waiting for a liver for six months. The liver was removed from Gamliel at Rambam Medical Center and transported to Schneider Children's Medical Center, where the transplant surgery took place. Bel's mother, Yana, expressed profound gratitude to Gamliel's parents for their "noble and not obvious" decision to donate organs, stating, "I have no way to thank Shahar's dear parents, who out of their grief gave life to my daughter."