Israeli-American multi-millionaire Michael Eisenberg says his two sons are preparing to fight Hamas terrorists – and one of his cousins has already been killed in gun battle

An Israeli American multi-millionaire has revealed how his two sons are preparing to fight Hamas terrorists and that one of his ‘beloved’ cousins ​​has already been killed in a shootout with them.

Michael Eisenberg is a leading businessman who runs Aleph, a venture capital firm with a £700 million fund that he invests in emerging Israeli companies.

He is considered one of the country’s leading figures in economic and social affairs after moving to Israel from the US in 1993 and raising eight children in Jerusalem with his wife Yaffa.

Speaking to MailOnline, he revealed how all Israelis, regardless of wealth, influence or social class, rallied after ‘taking the biggest hit since the holocaust’.

He said: ‘I have two sons in the Israeli army who are at their army base awaiting instructions. I have other family members like nephews and cousins ​​who are also getting ready to go fight.

‘I have already lost a cousin, but we are prepared to fight for our freedom and for the right of Jews to be safe. The world now understands that Hamas are animals and butchers. I feel angry and sad, but I am very determined that we will prevail.’

Multi-millionaire Michael Eisenberg posted a message to X and shared that one of his cousins ​​was killed in a shootout

“Our angel cousin Joey Z…with tears in our eyes,” Eisenberg wrote

He is a leading businessman who runs Aleph, a venture capital firm that invests in emerging Israeli companies.

Mr. Eisenberg, 52, posted a photo of his cousin Yosef Malachi on X and wrote: ‘Our angel cousin Joey Z… with tears in our eyes.’

He said: “The whole of Israel has taken a huge hit, probably the biggest since the Holocaust, but unlike in the 1930s and 1940s we are still standing. The aim of Hamas is only to kill Jews and the world now understands this.’

In a tribute to his fallen cousin, he wrote: ‘Joey was a lion, fleet of foot and one of the best ultimate frisbee players I have ever seen (my favorite family activity at the meets). He was a drone engineer and a commando with an empathetic heart of gold and deep faith. He was always there first to help anyone and everyone. And I mean everyone. From firsthand reports, we learned that Joey fought like a lion against the Hamas beasts and saved many civilians. He fought with another cousin, shoulder to shoulder and house to house to save people.’

He added: ‘May his memory be a blessing and an inspiration to us all. The human spirit and the lovers of humanity and empathy will eventually conquer these animals. Stay strong.’

Mr Eisenberg said that for security reasons he could not reveal the names of his two sons in the Israeli army or share their photos.

He told MailOnline: ‘What the Hamas terrorists did was a massive wake-up call for the whole of Israel and the whole world. I am proud of our children, my sons, cousins ​​and nephews and what they do. All the Israeli soldiers are our children.’

Since the surprise offensive, Mr. Eisenberg actively engaged in raising funds and supplies as the country prepared for more military action.

He said that he was particularly impressed with the way ordinary Israeli citizens responded to the crisis.

Eisenberg said: ‘What the Hamas terrorists did was a massive wake-up call for all of Israel and the whole world’

In the wake of the destruction, he revealed that hundreds of Israelis had donated food and supplies to soldiers ahead of a possible ground offensive in Gaza

The multi-millionaire said two of his sons are in the Israeli army and are awaiting instructions at an army base

Hamas opened fire on a music festival on Saturday, killing 250 people and taking others hostage. Corpses and belongings lay strewn across the ground

He said: ‘Israel is the strongest and most resilient civil society in the world. What we have done in the last 72 hours is nothing short of extraordinary. Groups of people dropped everything, jumped into their jeeps with their weapons and went to the south of the country to save hundreds of people from Hamas terrorists.’

Mr Eisenberg also revealed that hundreds of ordinary Israelis had donated food and other supplies to soldiers ahead of a possible ground offensive in Gaza.

Others have started WhatsApp groups offering services such as babysitting because so many men have been called up or collecting toys for children from families forced from their homes.

He also revealed how Israel’s technology sector, one of the fastest growing in the world, has also come to the country’s aid.

Tech gurus from a company he invests in have built an app and created a website that allows Israelis, especially those living near Gaza, to upload images and information about their location and whether or not they are safe.

He revealed that another tech entrepreneur he works with has used technology to identify people in their homes who are injured to help coordinate rescue efforts.

Mr. Eisenberg insisted: ‘When you see the images of barbarism and the blood of innocents being wasted, it’s very difficult. But the world will see that we are beacons of light fighting the darkness. We will come out of this stronger.’

Hamas terrorists killed at least 40 children before beheading them in a kibbutz in Israel. A baby seat and child’s dress are seen covered in blood in the aftermath

Shocking video shows 10-year-old Erez Kalderon kidnapped by Hamas fighter and dragged to border fence

Earlier on October 8, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war and approved “significant military steps” to counter Hamas

Israel has retaliated since Saturday’s surprise attack, killing at least 830 Palestinians and wounding 4,250

A spokesman for the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC, said the death toll in Israel had passed 1,000 on Tuesday afternoon.

The violence began on Saturday when Gaza’s ruling Hamas militant group launched a surprise attack, firing rockets into Israel as hundreds of fighters entered the border.

The country was thrown into disarray on Simchat Torah, a major holiday when Jews complete the annual cycle of reading the Torah scroll.

Gunmen stormed towns and communities outside the Gaza Strip, firing on civilians and IDF soldiers. More than 250 people attending a music festival in southern Israel were shot dead.

An additional 2,700 Israelis were injured, and at least 830 Palestinians were killed and 4,250 injured in the counteroffensive, according to health services from both countries.

In a shocking display of brutality, Hamas terrorists massacred at least 40 babies and young children before beheading some of them and shooting their families in a small kibbutz in Israel.

Outside the destroyed houses, the soldiers tell An i24News correspondent saw the headless corpses of babies strewn next to their cots.

Other shocking videos have emerged from the war-torn region, including footage of a 10-year-old boy being kidnapped and dragged to a border fence over the weekend.

About 150 people were held hostage, according to Hamas.