(live here) – Tomorrow, Tuesday, 29/04/2025, an exciting run will be held in Haifa in memory of Sergeant Amir Eyal, who fell on the first day of Operation Iron Swords. Amir, a young 19-year-old warrior, fought bravely, saved many lives, and fell in battle along with his comrades in arms. The running event is intended not only to commemorate his memory, but also to unite the community around the values that Amir represented in his short life – friendship, courage, and love of country.
A run in memory of Amir Eyal on the seaside promenade
The run will begin at 17:30 PM on Haifa's seaside promenade, near Sun Beach. Participants are asked to wear white shirts as a symbol of purity and remembrance. The course will last up to 6 kilometers at an easy pace, so that families, children and adults can also take part. This is not a competitive race - but a run of the heart, of memory and of partnership in mourning and love for Amir.
The life story of Amir Eyal – a child of smiles, sports and love
Amir Eyal was born and raised in Haifa, a graduate of the city's Reali School. His teachers and friends describe him as a blond, energetic, and cheerful boy. He was an outstanding athlete, playing basketball for the Maccabi Haifa team, excelling in ping pong and tennis, and loved watching sports from all over the world. His broad smile and the positive energy he brought with him everywhere will remain etched in the memory of everyone who knew him.
Amir's Last Battle – Unimaginable Heroism at the Nahal Oz Base
On the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on the Gaza enclave, Sergeant Amir Eyal was at the Nahal Oz base. During a massive attack, Amir was wounded by gunfire from a terrorist, but managed to eliminate him on his own. He then joined his comrades in the nearby shelter – additional fighters from the Nesher unit of Battalion 414.
They fought dozens of terrorists with supreme bravery and managed to save many of their comrades' lives at the base. However, the five of them were killed together inside the bunker, leaving behind a story of sacrifice and determination that is both inspiring and painful.
Days of nerve-wracking waiting and unbearable news
Amir's parents, like many other families, waited for days without a clear answer about the fate of their loved ones. Only four days later did the family receive the official announcement – Amir was killed on the first day of fighting.
Many hundreds came to his funeral, and many residents felt compelled to come out with Israeli flags and accompany the Eyal family from their home in the Vardiya neighborhood to the military cemetery. Many felt immense pain – for the loss, for the child who grew up here, for the dream that was cut short at birth, and for all that could have been and will no longer be.
The Mother's Words – A Testimony of the Great Break and Infinite Love
During the eulogy delivered by Amir's mother, the image of a beloved boy, a devoted family man, a passionate athlete, and a man who knew how to bring light and joy wherever he went was revealed. "We visited you at the base and didn't worry for a moment," his mother said, "Everything was pastoral and peaceful. We saw Gaza on the horizon and didn't think something like this could happen." She described how they waited to hear his voice, how they hoped for a miracle, and how hard it was to say goodbye to him without having had a chance to say goodbye. She told how the last Saturday before his death they spoke to him on the phone, and he told them about mice found at the base, and laughed – not knowing how short a time he had left to smile and share small moments with his family.
Additional events in memory of the fallen: Run in memory of Daniel Sheeran
On Memorial Day Eve, Tuesday, at 21:30 PM, another run will be held in memory of Sergeant Daniel Shiran, at Zamir Beach, near the (former) Kadarim Restaurant. Daniel, also a graduate of the Reali, served as a fighter in the Golani Brigade and was killed in battle in southern Lebanon during the Second Lebanon War, when he was only 20 years old.
Like Amir, Daniel represents a generation of young people full of passion for life, who lived with great love for their homeland and fell in its defense. The commemorative runs express the living and pulsating memory of a generation that left behind a huge void, but also a legacy of values and love.
An invitation is open to anyone who wants to remember and remind
The Eyal family invites anyone who wants to come and participate in the run, share memories, listen and hug. The run will begin with a smile, a light sweat, and stifled tears – but will end with a clear message: Amir lives in our hearts, and we will always remember him.
What is Sun Beach? There is no such thing.
Of blessed memory