Israel Warns of ‘Forceful’ Response After Kites Launched from Gaza
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning to Hamas, saying that the country will step up strikes on Gaza if it sees further kite, drone or balloon activity originating from the Strip.
Several kites were found in the Israeli community of Nahal Oz, just 800 m from the Gaza border, over the weekend, and other devices appeared elsewhere in southern Israel. The kites contained no explosives, but the military said they could be used “to test Israel’s response.”
Katz added a zero‑tolerance policy, stating that a balloon is treated like a kite, and a kite like a drone, with or without explosives. Residents of Nahal Oz expressed fears that similar incendiary kites could return.
Hamas denied responsibility, describing the kites as “children’s toys” from displacement camps, and condemned Israel’s threat as a fabricated pretext to justify ongoing aggression.
The episode follows a series of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza that have killed over 74,000 people since the conflict began. According to Palestinian health officials, two people were killed and seven injured in Israeli strikes on the Nuseirat refugee camp and al‑Zawayda town on Sunday, while a four‑year‑old boy was also killed in a bombing at al‑Zawayda.
Governors and civilians in Gaza continue to call for a genuine ceasefire and an end to violence. The drama around kite flights adds a new dimension to the already complex security situation, raising concerns for the safety of civilians on both sides.
