Sapir Shitrit, 32, from Sderot, gave birth to her second daughter this past weekend at Assuta Ashdod Hospital. The joyous event came about a year and a half after she lost her sister, First Sgt. Mor Shakuri, who fell on October 7 while fighting on the roof of the Sderot police station. Nearly a year later, in September 2024, their father, Sgt. Maj. Roni Shakuri, was murdered in a terrorist shooting attack near the Tarqumiya checkpoint.
“A granddaughter born of heroism”
Ayala Shakuri, Sapir’s mother and the newborn’s grandmother, shared her emotions, saying this was a moment of light amid the darkness for the family: “This moment holds everything – pain, longing, and tears of joy. This granddaughter was born of heroism, born of love.”
She emphasized, “She is our personal victory over everything that was taken from us. I choose to focus on what we have, not on what we’ve lost. It’s no cliché – life truly is stronger than anything.”
“Exceptional strength”
Dr. Erez Barenboim, CEO of Assuta Ashdod Hospital, who was present at the emotional moment, said: “Childbirth is always a moment of hope – but this time, it was also one of exceptional strength.”
He added, “Sapir chose light in the midst of darkness and brought new life into the world to carry on the legacy of two heroes. For us, it was a moment we will never forget.”
