“The family is interested in keeping a low profile, and sent an unequivocal message not to turn their son into part of the social struggle of the Ethiopians. As it is, things have gotten out hand,” a source close to the Mengistu family, whose son Avera is allegedly held in the Gaza Strip, told Al-Monitor. In recent months, this source has helped the family in their efforts to work with government agencies to bring about the release of Avera, an Ethiopian-Israeli youth who has a mental disability and who crossed the border into Gaza of his own accord 10 months ago.
The story of his disappearance has been kept from the public, and has even been hidden from the restrained ministerial forum — the diplomatic-security Cabinet — by means of a comprehensive gag order.