Hodaya Fadida Was The Pregnant Victim Shot Dead by Ex-Husband in Jerusalem
Hodaya Fadida, 26, was horrifically murdered by her ex-husband in a Jerusalem parking lot in what her family believes was a jealous rage. Her new husband witnessed the aftermath, saying the suspect then turned the gun on himself.
Family members of Hodaya Fadida, a 26-year-old pregnant woman who was murdered by her ex-husband, are reeling from the tragedy, stating there were "no warning signs." Hodaya, who was in advanced pregnancy, was celebrating her 26th birthday just one day before her murder in a Jerusalem parking lot. Her new husband, Eyal Fadida, described the harrowing moments. "I suddenly heard explosions, I thought they were firecrackers," he said, before realizing it was gunfire. When he went to investigate, he saw Hodaya on the ground. The ex-husband, Daniel Zalka, saw him and then "shot himself." Zalka survived and remains hospitalized.
According to Hodaya’s father, Lior Greenberg, the motive was jealousy. Zalka wanted to get back together with Hodaya, but she had "moved on." The family believes the murder was premeditated. According to Hodaya’s mother, Zalka was not aware of her pregnancy, but just moments before the murder, their 3-year-old daughter kissed her mother's pregnant belly, an act that likely revealed the secret. Zalka then shot Hodaya seven times in the abdomen and chest before delivering a final "confirmation shot to the face," her father said, adding that it was important for people to know what a "horrific murder" it was.
The tragedy has reignited public debate over gun control. According to the Michal Sela Forum, 24 women have been murdered in domestic incidents in 2025 so far, compared to 17 in all of 2024. The number of murders committed with firearms has also surged. Zalka, who worked as a licensed security guard, held a weapon legally as a result of his profession.
Women's and victim's rights organizations are now demanding stricter policies from the government. Lior Zinman, head of the Organization of Families of Murder Victims, expressed "deep sorrow" over the murder of both Hodaya and her unborn child. Tal Hochman, head of the Women's Lobby, said a woman is murdered on average every eight days and called for an end to the "criminal negligence" of the Ministry of National Security, which has relaxed gun-licensing requirements. Organizations are demanding a real government plan to combat the issue, including stricter mental health screenings for gun applicants and the expansion of the electronic bracelet law. Hodaya's nephew echoed these sentiments, stating, "The state is placing weapons in the hands of murderers."