Ribbon-shaped trails that appeared in Israel’s skies on Monday morning were caused by Israeli Air Force jets engaged in a routine exercise, and were not an intentional show of solidarity with the 100 hostages who remain in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
The trails, in the shape of the yellow ribbons worn by Israelis in support of the hostages, were reported by people across the country.
Hamas on Saturday published a video of an unidentified, tattooed hostage followed by a second video titled, “Netanyahu’s biggest dream is for them to all die.” The second video begins with a clip of Netanyahu giving a speech, stating, “We must return them [the hostages] all, the living and the dead as one.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the propaganda videos “cruel and malicious psychological warfare.” He also stated that he maintains ongoing communication with the families of the hostages, who are “enduring a terrible and prolonged nightmare.”
Adam Boehler, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s special envoy for hostage affairs, is visiting Israel this week amid ongoing negotiations to secure the release of the remaining captives in Gaza.
He will meet with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Monday, Ynet reported on Saturday night.
His visit comes as a senior Israeli official told the Hebrew news site that “significant progress” has been made in hostage negotiation efforts, suggesting that Hamas could be willing to drop some of its war-long demands to reach an agreement. The official indicated that a deal could be reached within weeks.
Reports suggest that the terror group has given up its demand for a declaration to end the war and a full Israel Defense Forces withdrawal from Gaza. Hamas has also reportedly agreed to a phased ceasefire and is willing to compromise on the release of high-profile terrorists in Israeli prisons.