The Jerusalem Municipality approved a protest tent for the family of nine-year-old Haymanot Kasau at Shimon Agranat Square near the Supreme Court, allowing it to remain through October 22. The approval led the Jerusalem District Court to remove a related administrative petition at the family's request. Haymanot disappeared from Safed on February 25, 2024; despite searches and a transfer of the probe to Lahav 433 in December 2025, no confirmed trace has been found. Her family is urging the Shin Bet to assume full responsibility for the investigation and has invited top officials to the protest site.
Jerusalem Approves Protest Tent Near Supreme Court as Family Urges Shin Bet to Take Over Haymanot Kasau Case
Blue and White MK Pnina Tameno-Shete speaks into a megaphone at a protest calling for an expansion in the investigation, a few weeks ago. (photo credit: Uriel Even Sapir)
The Jerusalem Municipality on Sunday granted the family of nine-year-old Haymanot Kasau permission to erect a protest tent at Shimon Agranat Square near the Supreme Court, the family said. Haymanot disappeared from Safed on February 25, 2024, and has not been seen since.
The permit allows the camp to remain in place through October 22 and effectively made an administrative petition filed by the family and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel unnecessary. At the petitioners' request, the Jerusalem District Court, sitting as an administrative court, removed the case from its docket and canceled a hearing that had been scheduled for Monday.
Family Demands Stronger Investigation
Haymanot's father, Tesfaye Kasau, thanked those who helped secure the permit after what he described as a five-month effort. He invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief David Zini to visit the protest tent, saying he hopes the encampment will be short-lived if the Shin Bet assumes responsibility for the investigation.
"We would like to invite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Shin Bet chief David Zini to the protest tent, in the hope that we will be able to dismantle it quickly because the Shin Bet will take responsibility for the case," Tesfaye said.
"Haymanot was kidnapped 953 days ago [on Monday], and it is clear to everyone that the investigation is not being handled properly. All Benchi and I are asking is that everything be done to bring her home," he added.
Police continue to list Haymanot as missing while the family maintains she was abducted. The family's stated aim for the protest is to press the government to transfer full responsibility for the case to the Shin Bet and to keep public attention focused on Haymanot's disappearance.
Investigation Status And Searches
In December 2025 the probe was transferred to the police's Lahav 433 National Crime Unit. Despite extensive searches involving police, rescue teams, canine units and volunteers, investigators say no confirmed trace of Haymanot has been found.
Demonstrators at the rally for Haymanot Kasau, September 23, 2026. (credit: Uriel Even Sapir)
The family's original permit request sought to site the camp from September 23 through October 22 at the intersection of Zusman and Kaplan streets, adjacent to the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem's government complex. They say earlier attempts, beginning in July, to obtain permission for protest sites near the Supreme Court, the Knesset and the prime minister's official residence were refused, even when the family offered to use existing protest areas or infrastructure.
Municipal Response
In its response to the application, the Jerusalem Municipality said long-term tent encampments generally create sanitation, safety and accessibility problems and can impede public use of shared spaces. The petitioners countered that the municipality did not identify any specific hazard tied to their proposed camp and relied instead on general policy concerns.
The family has agreed to remove the protest tent after October 22 unless authorities issue a different ruling.
Photo: Demonstrators at the rally for Haymanot Kasau, September 23, 2026. (Credit: Uriel Even Sapir)
"Thank you to everyone who supports and strengthens us," Tesfaye said. "Please come to the protest tent."
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