As search efforts enter their eighth day: Over 250 citizens from all over the country arrived overnight, without any official call, at Blue Bay Beach in Netanya and joined the efforts to locate 17-year-old Avraham Yeshayahu Spiegel, who has been missing since last Friday - after drowning at Sanz Beach in the city.
The volunteers, from all walks of life in Israel, arrived on their own initiative late at night, and took part in foot searches along the coastline and in nearby areas, alongside ZAKA volunteers from the Sharon Region - Netanya team who are working in the field.
Throughout the night, the ZAKA Chief of Staff was on site, coordinating the activity, distributing the sectors, and coordinating among all the volunteers. Within this framework, the participants received guidance and a basic briefing on the nature of the searches, with reference to the relevant search sectors and safety guidelines for working in the field, alongside the activities of the professional forces.
Hundreds of participants were spread out along miles of beach, with flashlights illuminating the area.
At first light, ZAKA's special units continue maritime operations, while activating all operational means, while continuing to search the coast.
Yermi Blumenthal, head of logistics at ZAKA Netanya: "We didn't ask and they just came. People left their homes in the middle of the night just to help a family they don't know. This is a picture you don't see every day, this is the people of Israel at their best. We are doing everything to allow the forces to continue working continuously, until we bring an answer to the family.""
Eliezer Lipshitz, head of the Netanya ZAKA team, added: "As we enter the eighth day of our efforts, we are not giving up for a moment. Together with all forces and with the help of the public, we will continue to act in every way until the boy is located and news is brought to the family.""
