Noam Shalit, the father of Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured by Hamas and held for more than five years, died on Wednesday at the age of 68.
Shali, who grappled with cancer, passed away at the Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, said a spokesman for the hospital.
The elder Shalit had grabbed the country’s attention as he worked to gain the release of his son, who was declared missing in action after being captured on June 25, 2006.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu eventually worked to secure Shalit’s freedom on Oct. 18, 2011, in a prisoner-exchange deal for the release of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Noam Shalit met with Israeli leaders and was constantly in the Israeli media during his struggle to free his son.
After Gilad’s release, Noam and his wife, Aviva, returned to life outside of the public eye.
Gilad Shalit, 35, married last June, 10 years after his return to Israel.
