Protesters Demand Shin Bet Join Investigation Into Disappearance of Haymanot Kesao
Dozens of protesters blocked a road near the Azrieli Center in Tel Aviv on Sunday evening, calling for the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) to be involved in the investigation into the disappearance of Haymanot Kesao. Kesao, a nine-year-old girl, vanished 882 days ago from an absorption center in Safed. Police arrived and cleared the protesters, but Kesao's family and activists vowed to continue their demonstrations, arguing that the police investigation has reached its limits and the state is not doing enough to find her.
Racheli Avta, a family member and activist, described the case as a kidnapping, noting that 14 minutes of surveillance footage were erased. She said the family believes the Shin Bet should take over the investigation, as the case was transferred to the Lahav 433 unit with no progress since. Avta emphasized the disparity in treatment compared to other missing children cases, citing the swift Shin Bet involvement in the recent search for a boy named Yuval Kogan.
Haymanot's father, Tesfaye Kesao, expressed heartbreak over the unequal response and accused authorities of neglect and possible racial bias, as the family are immigrants with limited Hebrew and resources. He said the government has the technological means to find any person but has failed to apply them in his daughter's case despite repeated requests and meetings, including with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The family demands the Shin Bet be officially included in the investigation, a move approved by the Attorney General in January but not yet implemented. Tesfaye Kesao criticized the police in Safed for inadequate investigation and lack of communication. He described the emotional toll on the family, saying he feels "between life and death" after nearly two and a half years without answers. The family remains committed to public protests until all possible resources are mobilized to locate Haymanot, whom they believe was abducted and is still alive.
