Itongadol.- Every child has the right to return home safely from school, Rachel Fraenkel told the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday morning in Geneva as she urged the international community to help rescue her son and two other teenagers who were kidnapped by Hamas earlier this month.
She described the events of June 12, in which her son, Naftali, 16, along with Gil-Ad Shaer, 16 and Eyal Yifrah, 19, were abducted from a hitchhiking post in the Gush Etzion region of the West Bank, as they made their way home from school.
“My son texted me, said he was on his way home, and then he was gone. Every mother’s nightmare is waiting and waiting endlessly for her child to come home,” Rachel Fraenkel told the UNHRC.
She told them something personal about each of the teens. “My son Naftali .. loves to play guitar and basketball. He is 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,” Fraenkel said.
She thanked those members of the international community who have spoken out in support of the teens.
“We wish to express our profound gratitude for the waves of prayers and support and positive energy, pouring in from around the world.
“I wish to thank the UN Secretary-General [Ban Ki-moo] for condemning the abduction of our boys and expressing his solidarity with the families and calling for their immediate return.
“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,” Fraenkel said.
Still, she said, she had come together with the mothers of the two other teens, Bat-Galim Shaer and Iris Yifrach to urge the international community to do more to bring their sons home.
“Much more can be done and should be done by so many,” Fraenkel said.
"That is why we three mothers have come here today, before the UN, and before the world, to ask everyone to do what ever they can to bring back our boys.
“Mr. President it is wrong to take children, innocent boys and 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 at home, in their beds, we just want to hug them again,” said Fraenkel.
Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal on Monday denied having any information about the whereabouts of the three boys, but added that, if indeed their was a kidnapping, those who carried it out should be saluted.
Fraenkel addressed the council during its 26th session, which ends on June 27th. She spoke toward the end of a UNHRC Agenda Item 7 debate on Israeli actions against Palestinians in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The UNHRC is mandated at every session to dedicate Agenda Item 7 to Israeli activities against Palestinians. Israel is the only country which the UNHRC is mandated to debate at each session.
Fraenkel was able to speak, because the non-governmental group UN Watch, allowed her to use their scheduled time at the session. UN Watch is a registered NGO at the UNHRC and therefore has a right to speak at its sessions.
UN Watch also funded Fraenkel’s trip to Geneva, as well as that of the other two mothers. Since the June 12 kidnapping Fraenkel has taken the lead in speaking on behalf of the families, particularly when it comes to the international community.
Rachel Fraenkel and her son Naftali, both hold duel Israeli-US citizenship.