Ricarda Locke is Shani Locke's mother, who was murdered at a party in Berei.
Her radiant and shining figure has become a symbol all over the world, and in Germany in particular, of the atrocities committed by Hamas against women and young people.
Since October 7 Ricarda has lived in an impossible reality: alongside the uncertainty that rocked her life, she decided to join in the first days of the prosecution process against Hamas crimes in The Hague, led by attorney Vias-Gebirtzman.
>>The campaign against Hamas crimes in The Hague<<
"I was in a WhatsApp group with families of German origin in the same situation as ours," she recalls in a conversation with "Israel this week".
"Someone brought up the idea of the lawsuit there. I contacted Yael, and we have been cooperating with her ever since. She advised us to file a criminal lawsuit in Germany as well, due to Shani's German citizenship, at the same time as the lawsuit in The Hague. And that is indeed what we are doing."
"Someone came up with the idea of the lawsuit on WhatsApp."
Ricarda Luke with the late Shani Luke's father, Nissim, photo: Eric Sultan
What do you expect to get from the lawsuit? After all, you have been in a difficult situation for three months now, investing strength and energy in trying to bring your daughter's body to a proper burial.
"The prosecution will not bring Shani back to us, and it is not a matter of money either. My overriding goal is that the case of Shani be known to the world. That it be written for generations in the history books. That in a few years they will not say that these atrocities did not occur. Just as there are Holocaust deniers, there are People who deny what happened to us. That's why it's so important to us that it has international legal validity, with evidence, investigations and a resounding verdict. That no one can challenge it."
As a German citizen, how do you feel about the international criticism against Israel?
"This is one of the things that frustrates me the most, the reactions from abroad.
The opacity of people who don't understand what's going on here.
This is the reason why, despite the difficulty, it is important for me to make my voice heard.
I was interviewed by all the media in Germany.
We met all the possible politicians there, from the ministers to the chancellor, all to tell them about this chaotic reality."
Will you travel to The Hague yourself?
"I have nothing to lose. I've already lost the most precious thing. Anything that can help others I'm ready to do, so I'll probably go."
The fight for her continues - also in the legal arena.
The late Shani Lok, photo: None
Do you expect that as part of the procedure you will get Shani's body back?
"We are still waiting for Shani's body. We don't have a grave. I don't know if the body is still there, what its condition is. I don't want to endanger any soldier for the body. If the lack of recovery of the body can keep someone alive, leave the body there. We will manage. I believe that sacrifices should be made for living things, and not for her body, but of course we are making every effort to return her home for a proper burial. We will give it up to a year from now, and if we don't succeed - we will build a grave with what we have now."
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