Hot air balloons take off from Israel main airport

With its runway largely free amid the coronavirus pandemic, four hot air balloons were given a special permission to take off from Israel's main airport on Saturday morning.

Israel's Airport Authority closed its airspace for the occasion, with preparations for take-off made before dawn.

Ben Gurion Airport is receiving a lower number of flights per day amid the coronavirus pandemic, and the re-imposition of some restrictions to contain the virus.

Israel imposed a general lockdown when the first coronavirus cases appeared in March and by May had largely succeeded in containing the outbreak.

But then it moved quickly to lift virtually all restrictions, and in the following weeks cases surged.

The country has reported a total of more than 57,000 cases and at least 442 deaths. More than 24,000 patients have recovered.