Students encouraged to bring red balloons to first day of school for missing child Haymanot Kasau

"The first day of school is always exciting," Haymanot's father Tesfaye Kasau said. "It's a happy day. For us, it's another hard day."

The family of Haymanot Kasau, who disappeared in Safed at age nine in 2024 and has been missing for more than 900 days, issued a statement on Sunday calling on Israeli children to attend the first day of school on September 1 with a red balloon, the international symbol for kidnapped children. 

"The first day of school is always exciting," Haymanot's father Tesfaye Kasau said. "It's a happy day. For us, it's another hard day. Haymanot enjoys learning. She's a smart girl. But Haymanot isn't starting sixth grade as she was supposed to."

On Sunday, artists and public figures, including Israel's National Student and Youth Council, began posting the red balloons on social media, according to a statement from the campaign headquarters seeking Haymanot’s return home. These posts call on students, school principals and administrators to keep Haymanot's kidnapping in the public eye.

Shin Bet involved in search for missing child Haymanut Kasau, Herzog says

The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) is involved in the search for her, President Isaac Herzog said on Tuesday during a meeting with the Kasau family.

“The Shin Bet is involved in the case and is fully committed to contributing in every way to locating Haymanut,” Herzog said.

“I thank the Israel Police for making a huge effort together with the Shin Bet and hope that we will receive good news,” he added.

Herzog told the family that he was informed of the Shin Bet’s involvement during a conversation with Shin Bet chief David Zini.

The announcement follows the family’s written appeal to Zini on Monday, asking him to get involved in the investigation.