Following the safe recovery overnight of 10-year-old Yehali Sofer from Petah Tikva, who was allegedly abducted to Bnei Brak and returned home after an intensive search, the campaign headquarters working to bring home Haimanot Kassao has responded with mixed emotions. While the family expressed relief at the swift and positive resolution of the incident, their private pain has resurfaced with renewed intensity: Haimanot has still not come home, now on day 918 since her disappearance.
Tesfia Kassao, Haimanot's father, released a moving and painful statement addressing the security forces' demonstrated ability to act quickly and effectively in urgent cases, contrasted with his ongoing frustration over the investigation into his daughter's case. She vanished in March 2024.
"Once again we have witnessed a happy ending to a frightening incident and another child found healthy and safe," the father said. "Once again my family and I are happy for people we don't know and trying to hold back tears for ourselves. This is what happens when an immediate and effective investigation is conducted following such a serious alert. In this case the child is slightly older than Haimanot was when she was taken, though Haimanot is now almost two years older than him."
