Israeli President Announces Shin Bet Involvement in Search for Missing Girl Heymanot Kasao

Israeli President Isaac Herzog informed the family of Heymanot Kasao during a meeting at the President's Residence that the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) has joined the investigation into her disappearance. This development follows a recent request from the Israel Police. Heymanot, who was last seen on February 25, 2024, at age nine near the absorption center in Safed where she lived, has been missing for two and a half years despite extensive searches and investigations.

Herzog told the family he spoke with Shin Bet chief David Zini, who confirmed the agency's full involvement to assist in locating Heymanot. The president expressed gratitude to the police and Shin Bet for their efforts and emphasized that Heymanot is "a child of all Israel," with many people concerned for her well-being.

Heymanot was last seen distributing election flyers with a relative on the day of her disappearance. Since then, no public information has clarified how she left the area or what happened to her. The family has consistently urged authorities to treat the case as a suspected abduction rather than a routine disappearance, though no conclusive evidence has officially reclassified the case.

In December 2025, after nearly two years without progress, Police Commissioner Danni Levi transferred the investigation to Lahav 433, forming a six-member team including an Amharic-speaking investigator. The family has repeatedly requested Shin Bet's involvement, citing the agency's unique capabilities. During a Knesset discussion in February 2026, the family reiterated this demand. Herzog's announcement confirms that the police recently engaged Shin Bet, which is now actively participating in the search.

Heymanot's father, Tesfaye Kasao, expressed concerns about potential difficulties and discrimination due to language barriers and skin color, highlighting the family's ongoing efforts to involve all relevant parties. The family has also criticized the pace of the investigation and the communication challenges with authorities. In June 2026, a renewed nationwide awareness campaign was launched, accompanied by a one million shekel reward for information leading to Heymanot's discovery, funded partly by the Jewish Agency and the family. Heymanot, now 11 years old, remains missing, and her family continues to call on all state agencies to exhaust every possibility to bring her home.