For Ella Elyakim
8 Years old
Ella was kidnapped along with her older sister, Dafna (15) by Hamas terrorists on October 7th, from their father's home in Nahal Oz. In a live video that was uploaded by the terrorists to social media, you can see them being held in their home by armed terrorists. The next image posted was of Ella and Daphna captive in Gaza. Their father, Noam, his wife, Dikla Arava, and her son Tomer(17) were murdered on that day.
On November 26, as part of the third phase of the exchange deal, Ella and Dafna were released
From the artist
As a mother of two daughters, I was particularly touched by the story of Ella and Dafna, sisters who were kidnapped together to Gaza on the morning of October 7 from Nahal Oz. When I was asked to draw Ella, I turned to her mother who told me that Ella, only 8 years old, is Daphnes little sister, Ella is a strong, kind and funny girl. Ella is a born dancer, a gifted painter, very talented and creative. When I heard this, I immediately understood what Ellas wall would look like. On the wall I painted Ella, in the midst of all this whirlwind, standing steady, strong and impressive, painting a house and the sun, a naïve painting of an 8-year- old girl. When I was drawing the painting, a passerby passed by me who said that it looked like a painting for the most beautiful girl in the kindergarten.
