Jan Koum, co-founder of WhatsApp, has donated $200 million to Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Center, marking the largest single philanthropic contribution in Israeli healthcare history, Ynet reports.
The unprecedented donation—equivalent to approximately 580-600 million shekels—will provide critical infrastructure funding for one of Israel's major medical institutions serving both Jewish and Arab populations in Jerusalem. Hospital administrators indicated the funds would support facility expansion and advanced medical technology acquisition.
Koum, who sold WhatsApp to Facebook for $19 billion in 2014, has previously supported various philanthropic initiatives but rarely at this scale. The Ukraine-born entrepreneur's connection to Israeli healthcare institutions was not previously publicized, making the donation somewhat unexpected within Israeli philanthropic circles.
The contribution arrives as Israel's healthcare system faces mounting pressure from both demographic growth and ongoing security-related medical demands. Shaare Zedek, located in central Jerusalem, has long served as a critical trauma center during regional conflicts while maintaining its role as a general hospital serving diverse populations.
In Israel, as across contested regions, security concerns and aspirations for normalcy exist in constant tension. Major philanthropic investments in healthcare infrastructure reflect both the system's chronic funding challenges and the tech sector's growing role in supporting Israeli institutions beyond the startup ecosystem.
