Students mark three years of Shalit captivity with rally

Dozens of students from kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit's old high school held a rally in his village of Mitzpe Hila Tuesday to mark three years since his capture by Palestinians in a cross-border raid.

Shalit's mother Aviva participated in the rally, as did activists from Friends of Gilad Shalit and other Mitzpe Hila residents.

The rally ended with the creation of a human chain by the students to demonstrate solidarity and support for Shalit.

11th-grade student Carmel Shaked addressed the crowd, reminding his fellow students that they had recently marked a human rights day at school.

"The topic was captivity and the redemption of captives, and it awakened in us questions about the consideration Israel is giving to the issue of freeing captives," Shaked said.

The actual third anniversary of Shalit's capture is next Wednesday, June 25.

Earlier Tuesday, former U.S. president Jimmy Carter brought with him to Gaza a letter for Gilad Shalit, which had been given to him by Shalit's father Noam on Friday.