Fresh information has come to light in the ongoing investigation of Heymanot Kassao, the 9-year-old girl who vanished in Safed six months ago.
During a recent Aliyah and Absorption Committee meeting, Heymanot's father revealed a startling eyewitness account from his daughter's friend.
According to the father, the friend claimed to have seen "a man with long sidelocks" abduct Heymanot, lifting her onto his shoulder before fleeing. Heymanot's reportedly narrowly escaped a similar fate.
MK Pnina Tamano-Shata has called for a thorough reexamination of all testimonies, urging the involvement of social workers and teachers in the process.
Committee Chairman Oded Forer strongly criticized the handling of the case, labeling it "a scandal."
The disappearance has deeply affected the Kassao family. "I ask that you feel that this girl is not just ours, but belongs to the entire country," Heymanot's father, Tesfaye Kassao, pleaded at the committee meeting. He described their ongoing anguish, stating, "We have no day or night from worrying about her."
Despite extensive police searches and community efforts, Heymanot's whereabouts remain unknown.
Authorities urge anyone with information about Heymanot Kassao's disappearance to come forward immediately.