Shalit march in Kiryat Ata
Photo: Shimon Badar
Marching in heavy heat: 'Gilad suffering more'
Participants in march for kidnapped soldier's release say 'Gilad has been through much more difficult things in past four years – that's why we continue'
Some 1,000 marchers, led by Noam Shalit – father of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit – arrived on Tuesday to Haifa's Campus HaNamal (Port Campus). The marchers proceeded despite a heat wave, and were forced to make several stops along the way.
Haifa municipality prepared shaded areas for the participants, and set up drinking stations and sofas where they could rest.
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According to weather forecasts, temperatures will drop in the upcoming day and conditions will improve.
"We drank plenty of water, applied sunscreen and wore wide-brimmed hats, which we prepared especially for the march," said Ella Hefetz, one of the event organizers.
"We stopped to refresh ourselves at the Air Force Institute of Technology, and from there we continued to march to Haifa. It's been hot and not easy, but we knew we we're marching in the summertime. Gilad has been through much more difficult things in the past four years and that's why we continue to march," she said.
The marchers left Kiryat Motzkin Tuesday morning and traveled down the Akko-Haifa road to Kiryat Ata, where they turned and headed to Haifa. After attending a ceremony with Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav on Tuesday afternoon, the marchers will head over to Kibbutz Yagur, where they will stay the night
