Father of Missing Girl Meets Police, Claims Lack of Empathy and Progress

The father of Haimnot Kaso, a nine-year-old girl who disappeared from a reception center in Safed in February 2024, met with representatives of the Israel Police and Lahav 433, a special investigations unit, on Monday. He was accompanied by retired Colonel Doron Hader, a former member of the hostage negotiation team in Gaza. Hader described the meeting as "very difficult and unpleasant," stating that he had witnessed more empathy and support for families of hostages and missing persons in his previous roles. He reported that when questioned about suspects, Haimnot's potential smuggling out of the country, or involving other agencies, the police responded with "We know what we are doing and do not intend to elaborate, trust us." Hader felt a sense of hostility and anger from the police regarding these questions, suggesting it might be linked to the family's desire to transfer the case to the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency).

The headquarters for Haimnot's return home issued a statement attributing the meeting to the family's frustration over a lack of clarity, poor handling of the family, and particularly the neglect of the investigation. The statement emphasized that the family is not convinced everything possible is being done to find Haimnot and reiterated their demand for the Shin Bet to take over the case, believing its different methods and tools could lead to her recovery. They also requested an urgent meeting with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Father Tesfaye Kaso expressed his deep frustration, noting that in over two and a half years, he has not been shown a suspect's photo or asked about any individuals. He feels the investigation is not being conducted properly by any police unit, from the local Safed station to Lahav 433, and that none have sought his assistance for information. "The anger and sorrow over the poor handling of my daughter's abduction investigation are immense," Kaso said. "It is hard for me to express in words how sad and disappointed I am with the way Haimnot's case and we, as worried and hurt human beings, are being treated. I ask again and emphasize that only a worthy investigative body, the Shin Bet, can currently provide the answers."

Previously, on the 900th day since Haimnot's disappearance, her family protested near Shin Bet headquarters in Tel Aviv, demanding the agency's involvement. President Isaac Herzog later confirmed that the Shin Bet had recently become involved at the request of the Israel Police, aiming to contribute to finding Haimnot. The Shin Bet confirmed its assistance in operations supporting the investigation, while noting that details could not be disclosed due to the active nature of the case led by the police. The Attorney General had previously authorized the government to involve the Shin Bet in the search efforts. The father argued that Haimnot's abduction from a public institution funded by the Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Absorption was sufficient grounds for Shin Bet involvement, viewing it as an attack on the state itself.