The mothers of former Gaza hostages, some of whom were killed and others that were released, met with the mother of Haymanot Kasau amid protests calling for increased efforts to locate the Ethiopian-Israeli girl who went missing from an immigrant absorption center in the northern Israeli city of Safed in 2024.
“I have no words to describe how much this meeting did me good, the hug, the listening, the encouragement and the support they gave me touched my heart. Now I know that I am not alone, I have new sisters,” Kassau said. “In the midst of the pain and worry, they gave me hope to continue fighting and not give up.”
Ofri Bibas, sister of Yarden Bibas, who was killed in Hamas captivity, and one of the meeting’s initiators, said that “only we, the families of the hostages, can identify with what the members of the Kasau family are going through.” She added, “We, the families, had each other and the huge public that mobilized for us. They are alone; we were not there for Haymanot and her family.”