An IDF pilot drew a cloud trail for the hostages. It was seen over Israel and Gaza on Monday morning.
“The ‘Hostages Symbol,’ a tied yellow ribbon symbolizing solidarity and support for the return of the hostages, appeared in the skies of Israel this morning.
The artist – a pilot; the brush – an airplane. This stunning image was visible from dozens of cities and towns across the… pic.twitter.com/YhLFzHcJ9P
— Bring Them Home Now (@bringhomenow) December 16, 2024
Ribbons in the Sky Result of Atmospheric Conditions, not Gesture to Hostages
By Anna Epshtein/TPS
The symbol of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza that appeared in the Israeli skies today was a result of atmospheric conditions, the Israeli military and scientists say.
“The clear sky this morning made it possible to see the symbol of the kidnapped, drawn by the contrails of a plane flying at high altitude,” Dr. Tom Goren, from the Department of Planning and Environment at Bar-Ilan University, an expert in atmospheric sciences, said.
“Condensation contrails are formed by water vapor emitted from aircraft engines and quickly crystallize into ice crystals at the low temperatures of the flight altitude. Not every flight creates contrails, as their formation depends on atmospheric conditions. This morning, a thin layer in the atmosphere contained enough moisture to form the contrails, but not so high as to lead to the formation of clouds. These unique conditions emphasized the contrails against the background of the clear sky and made it possible to see the symbol of the kidnapped clearly,” the scientist explained.
The Israeli Air Force confirmed that according to their investigation, the ribbons in the sky were the result of IAF aircraft “routine operational activity,” and not a rogue initiative meant as a gesture to hostages in Gaza.
“The sky also joins the request to bring everyone home,” Prof. Tom Goren said.
The ribbons were seen from north to south in Israel this morning. A yellow ribbon is a symbol of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza and of the campaign to bring them home.
