Two significant figures in Gilad Shalit’s life are his parents, Noam and Aviva Shalit. Noam, his father, was instrumental in both his incarceration and eventual release.
Shalit, who was born on August 28, 1986, was a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces. He was taken prisoner by Palestinian terrorists on June 25, 2006.
This was the beginning of a difficult five years under Hamas until his deal-breaking release on October 18, 2011.
Since Nachshon Wachsman was captured in 1994, Shalit was the first Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian militants. Numerous outlets have referred to Shalit’s arrest as an abduction.
He was denied Red Cross visits during this period, was unable to communicate with relatives, and had to provide cash in order to be released.
We shall delve into his personal life in this piece and see how important a role his parents played in his liberation.
Parents of Gilad Shalit: Aviva and Noam Shalit
On August 28, 1986, in Nahariya, Israel, Gilad Shalit was born to Aviva and Noam Shalit.
Shalit’s parents, particularly his father Noam, were crucial in getting his son back.
He had a meeting with former US President Jimmy Carter during Carter’s visit to Israel in April 2008.
Since Carter wasn’t seen as being very pro-Israel, Noam believed it was a wise move and hoped it would aid in the difficult negotiations to have Gilad freed.
With the promise that Hamas would fulfill after Carter’s intercession, Hamas wrote a third letter to the Shalit family in June 2008, raising hopes.
To confirm that the letter indeed came from Gilad, they compared the handwriting. In the midst of everything being difficult, there was a genuine kink.
Noam Shalit, displeased with the way the United States was impeding negotiations to release his son, handled all the intricate diplomatic issues with fortitude and resolve.
His endeavor was realized on October 18, 2011, when Gilad was freed as a result of a prisoner swap agreement.
Regretfully, Noam Shalit’s cancer-related death in March 2022 at the age of 68 devastated the Shalit family.
His six-year leukemia struggle demonstrated his strength of character as he battled for his kid through difficult circumstances.
Aviva Shalit, Gilad’s mother, was a constant source of support.
As parents, they really committed to their family, putting aside politics and the whole global chaos.
Wife and Family of Gilad Shalit
The transition of Gilad Shalit from captivity to marriage was made particularly memorable by his spouse, Nitzan Shabbat.
They celebrated their commitment in a beautiful ceremony at Emek Hefer, central Israel, in June 2021, ten years after Hamas had freed him.
Sharonit Event Hall served as the venue for their wedding. There to celebrate were Gilad’s supporters from 2006 to 2011, as well as his family and close friends.
Two families gathered together, displaying courage and joy, as they marched to the Chuppah: Gilad with his parents, Noam and Aviva Shalit, and Nitzan with her parents, Bilha and Moshe Shabat.
Since then, the pair has settled in central Israel and is enjoying a private life away from the spotlight.
Gilad is employed with Bank Discount in the security division. Nitzan, his spouse, is both an artist and a social worker.
Their desire is to maintain their privacy. They simply invited close friends and relatives to their intimate, tiny wedding.
Their friends and relatives pledged to make the wedding special and intimate by promising not to talk about it.
The narrative of Nitzan and Gilad is one of overcoming adversity and discovering happiness in the little things in life.
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