The family of Haymanut Kasau, who has been missing for over 940 days, set up a protest sukkah near the government complex in Jerusalem. “We would have built a sukkah anyway, and we chose to move it to Jerusalem because we want the public to hear us, learn about our situation, help, and come pray and spend the holiday with us. We will stay here until the Shin Bet takes responsibility for the investigation,” said Tesfaye Kasau, Haymanut’s father.
The sukkah was set up about a week after the Jerusalem Municipality rejected the family’s request to erect a protest tent outside the Prime Minister’s Residence, and the family petitioned the High Court of Justice. At the end of August, President Isaac Herzog told Haymanut’s family that the Shin Bet was already involved in the investigation, but since then, and throughout the years, there has been no progress in the investigation.
“The sukkah is a symbolic act of remembrance for the journey through the desert, and a prayer for unity. We feel that we are on a journey through the desert amid this entire struggle, because Haymanut is still not home,” the family said.
Earlier, a protest was held at Paris Square near the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem. It was attended by Shelly Shem Tov, the mother of Omer, who was abducted on October 7 and returned to Israel less than a year ago. In recent months, many former hostages and family members of returned hostages have joined the campaign, including Einav Zangauker, the mother of Matan Zangauker; former hostage Eitan Mor; and Uzi, the father of former hostage Omer Wenkert.
“I’m standing here and it’s very difficult for me to get the words out,” Shem Tov said, “because I’m experiencing something that physically takes me back to the period when my Omer was in captivity.”
“I’m ashamed, because I feel that I, too, have somewhat forgotten Haymanut and her family, and so has the people of Israel,” she added. “I’m sure it’s not out of any ill will. It’s because there aren’t enough people to create the force needed to shake things up and reach those who need to be reached. I wouldn’t wish on anyone the experience of being a mother whose child is not with her.”