Full Breakdown
Red Balloon Campaign Calls for Return of Missing Safed Child
8/30/2026, 10:15:40 PM
Core Event: Red-Balloon Appeal for a Kidnapped Student
The family of Haymanot Kasau, who vanished in Safed in 2024 and has been missing for more than 900 days, issued a public appeal on a Sunday urging Israeli children to bring a red balloon—the international symbol for kidnapped children—to school on the first day of classes, September 1. The campaign, coordinated by its headquarters and supported by Israel’s National Student and Youth Council, asks students, principals and administrators to keep Haymanot’s case visible.
Official Statements & Responses
President Isaac Herzog announced that the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) is now involved in the search. He said:
> “The Shin Bet is involved in the case and is fully committed to contributing in every way to locating Haymanut,” — Isaac Herzog, president “The Shin Bet is involved in the case and is fully committed to contributing in every way to locating Haymanut,” — Isaac Herzog, president
Herzog also thanked the Israel Police for their “huge effort” alongside Shin Bet and expressed hope for positive news.
On-the-Ground Reports
On July 26, 2026, protesters blocked roads in Tel Aviv demanding further government action on the disappearance of the child, described in reports as a four-year-old Haymanut Kasau. Artists and public figures began posting red-balloon images on social media, echoing the family’s call and seeking to sustain public attention on the case.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the child’s age and name spelling: the initial family statement refers to Haymanot Kasau, a nine-year-old who disappeared in 2024, while later coverage describes a four-year-old Haymanut Kasau. The timeline of the disappearance and the exact date of the family’s written appeal to Shin Bet chief David Zini are not detailed in the available excerpts.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Shin Bet is involved in the case and is fully committed to contributing in every way to locating Haymanut,” — Isaac Herzog, president “The Shin Bet is involved in the case and is fully committed to contributing in every way to locating Haymanut,” — Isaac Herzog, president
