Sheffi Paz, Face of South Tel Aviv Campaign Against Illegal Immigration, Dies at 74

Sheffi Paz, a prominent activist who led protests against illegal immigration in south Tel Aviv, has died at the age of 74. The Save Tel Aviv organization announced her death on Monday.

Paz was among the leading figures in the protest movement of residents in the older neighborhoods of south Tel Aviv. She spent many years in public activism aimed at improving residents' personal safety and changing the government's immigration policy.

She died after a struggle with cancer. Doctors diagnosed the disease for the fourth time over the past month, having previously treated her for it on three occasions.

Paz was the daughter of Holocaust survivors who moved to Israel from Poland when she was a child. In 2013 she began leading the public campaign against the presence of illegal migrants in south Tel Aviv. Over the following years she organized demonstrations, confronted government officials and local authorities, and became one of the movement's most recognizable faces.

Her activism also brought her into conflict with law enforcement and led to legal proceedings. In September 2024, she was sentenced to 45 days in prison after being convicted of offenses tied to her protests, including spraying graffiti and disturbing public order. She served the sentence and returned to public activism after her release.

In a statement, Save Tel Aviv said Paz devoted the last years of her life to fighting for south Tel Aviv residents and would not give up her demands despite the personal cost. Deputy director-general Amalia Ozer and spokesperson Yaakov Sela paid tribute to her. "Today we lost a courageous leader, a dear friend, and a woman who became a symbol of determination, dedication, and love for the country," they said.

The organization described her as "the voice of the invisible people, those who had been left behind," and said she showed that "even one person, armed with truth and faith in the justice of their cause, can shake an entire country." It added that even when she was "persecuted, arrested, and sent to prison," she continued to stand tall.

The group pledged to carry on her campaign. "Sheffi is gone, but her struggle is not over," members said, vowing to follow in her footsteps, fight for south Tel Aviv, combat illegal immigration, and work toward the goals to which she dedicated her life.

Ozer, a close friend of Paz, spoke to Walla on Monday morning about the loss and the weeks she spent at Paz's hospital bedside. She described a "very rapid and unexpected downward spiral." Although they knew Paz's condition was worsening, she said, they had not expected the end to come so soon. "The State of Israel has lost a precious asset, someone who cared for the invisible people. I'm not sure she can be replaced," Ozer said.

Ozer said the question of who would inherit the struggle had come up even before Paz fell ill. "I'm the one who does all the parliamentary work, but I'm not her. Sheffi is the recognizable face of our movement," she said, adding that Paz functioned "like a lioness" until her final moment.