Shaked Friedman, 18, from Mevoot Iron School in the Menashe Regional Council, has organized running groups with his friends in recent weeks to "remind us through the feet" of Israelis kidnapped to Gaza and held captive by Hamas.
Running for them: the special gesture of the young people for the abductees // Photo: Maor Nachmani
Friedman and his friends began running for the abductees on the beach near Caesarea, and families of the abductees also arrived. "We started with very few friends, but today we are already with hundreds of people who come from all over the region and even from far away to run with us, there are children with us who wake up at 5:30 in the morning and adults who come, including grandmothers. Everyone runs at his own pace and we all have one goal - to remember the abductees who are held captive by Hamas, they must not stay there for even one more day, we want them to be released quickly," Friedman says.
"They must not remain in captivity for even one more day." The group of runners, photo: Ziv Cohen
This gesture sows optimism among runners. "We don't run in a disabled atmosphere, but in a happy atmosphere and with music because we believe in hope and don't want people to despair, neither on the home front nor the families of the abductees, it's very important to us," Friedman says.
Running for the abductees, photo: Ziv Cohen
Amir Menachem, CEO of the Five Fingers movement and a major (res.) from Shayetet 13, says that the movement supports the work of Shaked and his friends: "It's lovely to see our youth taking leadership, and not being in front of screens all day. Young children who wake up at 5:30 a.m. in the cold to run with signs for the abductees is leadership, it's values, it's a strong mentality. We support them very much."
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