The Israel Police on Monday said it “failed the mission” to find Haymanot Kasau, an Ethiopian Israeli girl who has been missing since February 2024.
Police representatives gave a status update on the case at a session of the Knesset Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs Committee.
It was the 12th meeting at the Knesset to discuss the disappearance of Kasau, who was nine years old at the time. It was attended by her father, mother, and sister, along with MKs and Israel Police representatives.
Various efforts had been made to try to find Kasau, but “so far, we have failed in the mission of bringing the girl home,” a police representative said.
Tesfaye Kasau, Haymanot’s father, told the panel: “I am ashamed of the state that we have reached in this situation. My family has no tears left. I ask everyone to make every effort to find my daughter.”
“The police did everything they could to find Haymanot, and I ask that the investigation file be transferred to the Shin Bet [Israel Security Agency],” he said.
Haymanot Kasau has been missing for 647 days
The last time Haymanot Kasau was seen was near the absorption center in Safed, 647 days ago. She had been spotted in security camera footage at the entrance to the center.
Kasau immigrated from Ethiopia in 2021 and lived in Safed with her family.
Tesfaye Kasau said posters of his daughter should be posted across the country, as was done with the hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
There should be a dedicated budget for a campaign to find Haymanot, which has not been developed until now, he said.
Haymanot’s mother said, “Our family is trying to continue living, but we cannot do so until my daughter is found. Everyone should feel that Haymanot is their own daughter.”
Haymanot’s sister also said the case should be transferred to the Shin Bet.
It was “time for the police to admit” that they cannot find her, she said, adding that the “police are now hoping for a miracle and are not taking practical steps.”
She said Haymanot should be classified as kidnapped rather than missing,” a significant status update that the family has been pushing for since her disappearance.
“Why isn’t my sister defined as kidnapped?” she asked the panel. “Do you want us to go out and protest and burn the country for this to happen?”
Tesfaye Kasau also called for the status change, saying his daughter “is not missing. She was kidnapped, as testified by the two girls who were with her.”
Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs Committee chairman Gilad Kariv (The Democrats) said the next Knesset panel would include a representative from the Shin Bet. He also said the police should reexamine the classification status of kidnapped.
Yesh Atid MK Naor Shiri said, “We must be honest. We have failed.”
“The Kasau family should not have to knock on government office doors to be heard,” he said.
“The presence of Haymanot must be made visible in the public space,” Shiri said, adding that he had walked through Safed last week, and “nothing has changed on the ground.”