A huge part of Ziva's character arc is her constant conflict with a feeling of belonging somewhere. Luckily, joining the NCIS team makes her feel like she belongs. But in Season 10, she reconnects with her estranged father, Mossad Director Eli David (Michael Nouri), who has been directly tied to her deep feelings of looking for a place to call home and feel comfortable. Hoping to mend their relationship, Ziva and Eli meet each other and begin reconciling.
This new chapter is Ziva's relationship with her father is tragically cut short in the Season 10 episode "Shabbat Shalom." Near the end of the episode, the Davids go to the Vance homestead for dinner. Eli gives an emotional toast before they start eating, leading Ziva to storm away from the dining room in anger. As she gathers herself outside, she calls Gibbs, and, almost immediately, a shooter opens fire in the Vance home. Eli and Vance's wife, Jackie (Paula Newsome), are killed while Ziva and Vance call for backup.
In the wake of this shocking event, Gibbs and the NCIS crew lock down the crime scene. Ziva then goes into the Vance home and discovers her father is dead. She runs over to him and holds him, sobbing, as DiNozzo, Gibbs, and the rest of her colleagues look on.
