1.   Overcast skies, unacceptable for launching, darkened the area all morning.

2.   Tanning darkens normal areas, which makes the light ones more prominent because they cannot tan.

3.   Electricity in Gaza City had been cut off earlier to darken the area in anticipation of Israeli strikes.

4.   Electricity in Gaza City had been cut off earlier to darken the area in anticipation of the retaliation.