The travel route allegedly used to abduct Eitan Biran - the young boy who survived a tragic cable car crash in May - from Italy was revealed on Monday by the Italian daily Corriere delle Serre.
According to the report, Eitan's grandfather Shmulik Peleg picked him up at 11:30 am on Saturday from his aunt and drove him across the border to Switzerland. From there, the two boarded a private jet to Tel Aviv.
The paper said that a private plane was necessary because of the strict laws that forbid taking a child out of the country without the approval of the legal guardian.
In an interview with Eitan's grandmother, Etti, on 103FM Radio, she claimed that her grandson was not kidnapped.
"The boy wanted to return to Israel the whole time," she said. "Finally, after four months, the doctors will see him. [His aunt and uncle] did not allow my husband and me to meet with his doctors and therapists."
She added that Eitan was going through extensive testing and therapy at Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer.
"He was born and grew up in my house," she continued. "He's the first grandson from both sides, a boy with a lot of warmth and love. Just a wonderful, smart boy. During COVID he was here for half a year or even more."
Eitan's uncle in Italy, Or Nirko, was interviewed after Etti, and he told 103FM that Etti was involved in the abduction. "She claims that she flew back to Israel the day before so that she could essentially not be involved in the crime," he said.
"After Eitan was abducted, you can imagine how we feel," he added. "Eitan went out for a family visit and was meant to return in the evening. We realized there was a problem when he didn't come back. We waited a few minutes, and Aya started calling [the grandparents], and no one answered.
Eitan was the sole survivor in a cable-car crash in Italy in May, and courts ruled that he should stay with his aunt and uncle in Italy, but this caused conflict with Eitan's family in Israel, with arguments and accusations on either side, resulting in Eitan's abduction to Israel.