NBA star Shaquille O’Neal sends greetings to child victims of October 7
Basketballer’s video, which included Hebrew phrases such as ‘Shabbat shalom,’ sent to Israeli children at a summer camp for terror victims in Canada
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal sent a supportive video message to child survivors of the October 7 Hamas massacre, who are being hosted at Camp Timberlane in Canada.
In the video, O’Neal says “Hello. Shalom! This is Shaquille O’Neal. I just wanted to give you guys a shout out and let you know I love you.”
He goes on to say, “I know you came from far, far away. Hope you’re having a good time. We love you so very much.”
O’Neal then ends the video with a farewell in Hebrew: “Shalom, Baruch Hashem, Le Shana Tova, Shabbat shalom!”
Hamas’s October 7 massacre saw some 3,000 terrorists burst across the border into Israel, killing some 1,200 people and seizing 251 hostages amid acts of brutality and sexual assault.
Camp Timberlane’s website states that it teamed up with OneFamily, an organization that helps rehabilitate and empower victims of terror and their families, over 12 years ago to provide summer camp experiences to Israeli children.
???? @SHAQ sends words of comfort to Camp Timberlane, which is hosting young Israelis who survived the October 7 massacre (or have relatives who were murdered).
Thank you, Shaq, for your words of comfort and for showing off your Hebrew. pic.twitter.com/nuQ7Xkd5iG
— Creative Community for Peace (@CCFPeace) August 19, 2024
It was unclear when the NBA star sent the video, though it was shared on Camp Timberlane’s Instagram page last week.
O’Neal joins a host of celebrities who have expressed support and empathy for the victims of the October 7 massacre.
In October, filmmaker Quentin Tarantino visited survivors of the attack in southern Israel, and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather offered messages of support and sent aid on a private jet.
Adam Sandler, Jennifer Garner and Yara Shahidi have also expressed empathy for the victims.
In December, American Jewish comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his wife Jessica Seinfeld made a wartime solidarity trip to southern Israel, and the actor has been vocal in his calls for the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
