New information has come to light in the mysterious disappearance of a 3rd grader five months ago from Tzfat.

Little Hymanut Kassou vanished without a trace on February 25 near an immigration center, sending shockwaves through Tzfat’s vibrant Jewish community. Since that fateful day, a massive search effort comprising over 1,000 police officers, IDF troops, civilian volunteers, and even expert dog handling units has been searching the region.

During a Knesset meeting on Wednesday, a recording was played that has reignited hope for a breakthrough in the case. It featured a conversation between a search volunteer and the commander of the Tzfat police station. According to the volunteer’s account, a friend of Hymanut testified that a “man with long side curls” lifted the 9-year-old and ran away. The man also tried to kidnap the friend, but she managed to escape.

The friend also related that a few days prior to Hymanut’s kidnapping, they were almost abducted. They sought help from a security guard, which thwarted the attempt. However, the children chose not to report the incident to police, due to a culture of silence among Ethiopians.

With a description on hand, this new lead has given police a chance that could help break this cold case.