Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Rachel Frenkel, mother of
Naftali, 16, who along with Gilad Shaer and Eyal Yifrah were abducted on June 12, asked that the international community help return the three boys home to their families:
“On
behalf of UN Watch, my name is Rachel Frankel, and I live in Israel.
I’ve come here today as a mother. Twelve days ago, my son Naftali, and
two other teenage students, Eyal Yifrah and Gilad Shaer - whose mothers
are sitting behind me - were kidnapped on their way home from school.
Since then, we’ve heard nothing - no news, no sign of life.
With
your permission, I’d like to tell you about the boys. My son Naftali is
16. He loves to play guitar and basketball. He’s a good student and a
good boy - a combination of serious and fun. Eyal loves to play sports
and cook. Gilad is an amateur pastry chef, and loves movies.
My
son texted me - said he’s on his way home - and then he’s gone. Every
mother’s nightmare is waiting and waiting endlessly for her child to
come home.
We wish to express our profound gratitude for the
waves of prayers, support and positive energy, pouring in from around
the world.
Being in this assembly, I wish to thank the UN
Secretary-General for condemning the abduction of our boys, expressing
his solidarity with the families, and calling for their immediate
release.
And I thank the International Red Cross for stating
clearly that international humanitarian law prohibits the taking of
hostages, and for demanding the immediate and unconditional release of
our boys.
At the same time, I believe much more can be done - and
should be done - by so many. That is why we three mothers have come
here today - before the United Nations, and before the world - to ask
everyone, to do whatever they can, to bring back our boys.
Mr.
President, it is wrong to take children, innocent boys or girls, and use
them as instruments of any struggle. It is cruel. This Council is
charged with protecting human rights. I wish to ask: Doesn’t every child
have the right to come home safely from school?
We just want them back in our homes, in their beds. We just want to hug them again. Thank you, Mr. President.”