Red Balloons Released Across Israel for Missing Girl Haimanut Kassao

Students, schools, businesses, and workplaces across Israel released red balloons on Tuesday, calling for the return of Haimanut Kassao, who has been missing for over two and a half years. Kassao, who would have started sixth grade on Tuesday, was the focus of a nationwide initiative to raise awareness of her disappearance.

The National Student and Youth Council coordinated with school principals to incorporate the red balloon release into the first day of school. Rotem Gatreida, chair of the council, stated, "We, the students and youth, embrace the Kassao family. We are concerned that Haimanut has not yet returned home and that the issue is not in the headlines. Out of support for the family and to raise awareness of her disappearance, we will open September 1st with red balloons, the international symbol for kidnapped children."

In Migdal HaEmek, hundreds of students and staff at "Campus Siach" school gathered to release balloons, with the municipality reporting that "the sky filled with red dots" as students offered a "painful and united prayer for her swift and safe finding and return to her waiting family." The mayor of Migdal HaEmek, Yaki Ben Haim, expressed the city's solidarity with the Kassao family.

Businesses also marked Kassao's absence. The Royal Beach Hotel in Eilat will screen a video about her this week, and the Isrotel hotel chain will distribute bracelets with her name in Amharic to employees. Red balloons were also released from the roofs of all Isrotel hotels at 10 a.m.

Additionally, the ride-sharing app Gett featured Kassao's picture holding a balloon in its app for the day, and firefighters and staff at the Holon fire station held a "Solidarity and Hope" event, stating, "Haimanut, we are waiting for you."