Not nearly enough is being done to find Haymanot Kasau, an Ethiopian Israeli girl who has been missing since February 2024, her parents told the Knesset Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs Committee on Wednesday.
The meeting marked the 11th discussion at the Knesset since the then-nine-year-old’s disappearance and was attended by her father, mother, and sister, along with MKs and representatives from the Israel Police.
Tefesa, Kasau’s father, criticized his daughter’s status as still being considered “missing” rather than “kidnapped” despite ongoing attempts to change it.
“What must be done to officially define her as kidnapped? Everyone should pause and think: What if this were your child? My daughter has been suffering for almost two years,” he said.
“How can a country like Israel, with all the technology it has, fail to find her? This is happening because she was born into an Ethiopian immigrant family,” he added.
Kasau’s mother said it has been a very difficult period for the family, noting that many children returned to school on September 1, “but Haymanot did not return. We keep hearing the same statements.”
Kasau’s sister told those at the meeting, “I’m afraid that if this were to happen to me, nothing would be done for me.“I don’t want to live in a country where I think that if I disappear, no one will search for me. I won’t believe the police are doing enough until they find my sister,” she said.
The family also stated that the police were supposed to be in touch with them on a weekly basis, but instead, they only updated them once every month or every two months.
Committee members said that the main goal of the discussions was to ensure that Kasau’s disappearance remains on the public agenda and that the Israel Police continue searching for her until she is found, investigating all leads thoroughly.
All efforts are being made
Israel Police representatives updated those present on the work being done to investigate her disappearance.
“All efforts are being made, and the investigation is still ongoing,” a police representative said.
“The possibility of kidnapping status is being considered, depending on the progress of the investigation,” he added.
MK Naor Shiri (Yesh Atid) requested at the meeting “that the police conduct a thorough review and establish a body to examine what could have been done differently and how the system can be improved technologically and organizationally to prevent the next case.”
“This is not an isolated incident,” she added.
MK Gilad Kariv (The Democrats), who heads the committee, said, “We will not relent on this issue and will continue holding these discussions. Even between sessions, we are in contact with the police, the Jewish Agency, and government ministries.
“We must make every effort to find her. Our goal is to ensure practical progress, including a public awareness campaign on this issue,” he added.
On Sunday, February 25, 2024, Kasau went on an annual school trip and returned home around 4:00 p.m. After that, she went to an activity at the absorption center and then continued to play with her friends.
She was last seen on a security camera at the entrance to the reception center at 7 p.m., wearing a pink sweatshirt with a black skirt over it and white sneakers.
Since then, there have been ad campaigns, search days, Knesset committee meetings, and private investigations, but there is still no sign of her.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.