An Israeli court ordered that a six year-old boy who survived a crash on a cable car in Italy be returned home to his family. This follows a bitter custody battle between his family in Israel and his Israeli relatives.
The court declared today that Eitan Biran must be returned to ‘the place of his normal residence in Italy’ and ordered his grandfather, who had flown the boy to Israel against the wishes of his family members in Italy, to pay around $20,000 (£14,500) in expenses and lawyers’ fees.
Eitan’s parents, and younger sibling, were among 14 people killed when a cable car crashed into a mountainside in northern Italy in May. This has been the subject of a custody battle between his paternal grandparents in Israel and his paternal family in Italy.
Eitan’s paternal family claims that he was taken without them knowing and that he had filed a legal complaint to Italy seeking his return.
Today, an Israeli judge ruled that Eitan’s relocation from Israel to illegally violated the guardianship rights and Aya Biran Niro, his paternal aunt in Italy whose custody the boy will be returned.
A Tel Aviv court has ruled that Eitan Biran, six (centre), must be returned to his family in Italy after his grandfather flew him to Israel in the wake of a cable car crash that killed his parents and sibling
Eitan Biran’s Israeli parents and younger brother, as well as his great-grandparents, were among the victims of the accident that occurred in Italy’s northwestern Piedmont in May. Eitan was taken to hospital in critical condition following the accident.
Shmulik, Eitan’s grandfather, defended his decision not to take the boy with him, saying that it was in the best interests of the child, despite the disapproval from his paternal family.
Eitan will be returning to live with his paternal aunt Aya Biran-Nirko, an Israeli-born doctor (pictured), in the vicinity of Pavia
Shmulik Peleg Eitan’s grandfather has defended his decision not to send the boy home, claiming it was in the child’s best interests.
Before flying Eitan back to Israel, he drove Eitan to Switzerland and did not tell any other relatives.
Eitan was living in Italy with his parents at the time of the accident. Following weeks of treatment, officials from the Italian juvenile court ruled that the child would be placed in the care of Aya Biran (near Pavia in northern Italy) as a paternal aunt.
Monday’s ruling by Judge Iris Ilotovich Segal of Tel Aviv’s family court stated that Eitan’s home was in Italy. His family moved there when he was just one month old.
She concluded that he had illegally moved to Israel and violated his aunt’s guardianship rights.
Eitan’s maternal grandfather Shmulik Perleg (pictured at Court) organized the boy’s transportation from Italy to Israel despite an Italian court ruling that he would live with his paternal aunt. Today, an Israeli judge ruled Eitan’s relocation of to Israel was illegal and in violation of the guardianship rights his aunt.
The judge also encouraged the family to find a way to reconcile, stating that it was important to concentrate on the emotional and medical condition of the minor, as well as giving him the support, care, and embrace he requires following the tragedy that has befallen him and his family.
Eitan’s paternal relatives praised the ruling in statement. They said that there are no victors and vanquished and that there are no winners or losers.
“There is only Eitan. We ask that Eitan return home quickly to his friends, school, and family, and that he receives the educational and therapeutic frameworks that he requires.
The boy’s Israeli maternal family said that it will appeal the decision.
They stated in a statement that the court ruling only dealt with the question of Eitan’s expulsion from Italy. It did not consider his future.
They stated that’sadly, the options and solutions raised in relation to the minor’s relationship with both families were not fully exhausted’.
“The family is determined not to stop fighting in any possible ways for Eitan’s well-being and his right of growing up in Israel, as his parents wanted,’
Peleg stated to Channel 12 in Israel that his grandson was in the right place, at his home in Israel, before the judges ordered them to stop talking to media.
This file photo, taken October 10, 2021, shows Aya Biran (center), paternal aunt and survivor of the fatal cable car accident in Italy. She arrives at the Israeli court in Tel Aviv.
The case has sparked emotions in Israel with pro-Peleg protesters insisting that it was wrong to send a Jewish child outside of Israel.
Peleg stated to Channel 12 in Israel that his grandson was in the right place, at his home in Israel, before the judges ordered them to stop talking to media.
Eitan, his parents, Amit Biran & Tal Peleg, were living in Italy. Amit Biran was a medical student, as was their other child Tom.
Eitan sustained severe chest and abdominal injuries after an accident involving an aerial tram that brought weekend visitors to the top on the Piedmont region’s Mottarone Mountain.
It was the worst accident in Italy for more than two decades.