Born and raised in Rosh HaAyin, the older brother of Itai (21), son of Limor and Avi, and partner to Gal.
Shagai served in the reserves in Battalion 8208, Brigade 261. He fought starting from October 7, 2023, and fell on January 22, 2024, in the tragic collapse of buildings along with 20 of his friends in the center of the Gaza Strip, shortly before the mission was completed when the battalion set out to deepen the defensive perimeter against the border communities. Shagai went to fight even before receiving an order for reserve duty, driven by faith, courage, and determination that this was the mission of his life – our lives, to protect our country.
In a note he left at the start of the war, he wrote to himself, “The ultimate mission – to safeguard human lives.”
During his regular service, he enlisted in the Givati Brigade, becoming a fighter in the Shaked Battalion, and later continued as a company commander in the Givati Reconnaissance Unit. After his discharge, he worked at the Israel Airports Authority as a commander in the security department of Ben Gurion Airport, receiving a certificate of excellence for his service. His managers wrote, “Shagai was a professional commander in every fiber of his being, a man of the earth, beloved by his friends, humble, and always wore a captivating smile on his face.” Despite working in a job defined as essential, which could have exempted him from reserve duty, he refused to be released, saying, “I was called to a mission, and I will stay until I finish my reserve service.”
Shagai was a person with a huge soul and a captivating smile that never left his face; he always thought of others before himself. Humble, modest, and principled, he was a loyal friend who brought joy and laughter to everyone around him. He had a natural connection with nature, and his love for his homeland was evident in every aspect of his life. He often spoke about the fate of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, which strengthened his commitment to the important mission in a war that could not be more just. A war for home.
In a letter he left behind, he wrote:
“I have no other country, especially when my homeland is burning, and if I must die, then for the defense of the homeland… Dear people, this is my will: dedicate yourselves to the love of the country, to love one another – be there for each other, and our society will be better. Yes, even if it means less money, give of yourselves to the weak, do not be afraid to love, help the elderly on the bus and anywhere else, and of course, salute every Israeli flag you see along the way. With all the sorrow it brings, my time has come, and I am proud to have fought with my friends in this vital mission. Yours forever, Shagai.”
