The family of a mentally ill Ethiopian Israeli man believed to be imprisoned in Gaza is appealing to the international community to help bring him home.
Relatives of Avraham Mengistu, who wandered into Gaza in 2014 and has not been seen since, were in Geneva on Feb. 29 to meet with diplomats and appeal for international help, Agence France Press reported. Geneva is where the United Nations’ European headquarters is located.
Mengistu was 29 when he disappeared and was suffering from severe depression. Israel’s Defense Ministry believes that Mengistu was held by Hamas after illegally crossing the border, but the Islamist movement governing Gaza has provided no information about his whereabouts, according to AFP.
A family member said the family believes “the international community has influence over Hamas” and may be able to pressure it to “do the right thing.” — jta