Israel Warns of Escalation in Gaza Over Kite, Drone and Balloon Launches

JERUSALEM — Israel has warned Hamas that it will intensify military operations in the Gaza Strip if launches of kites, drones and balloons toward Israeli territory continue, following a recent increase in such incidents.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz issued the warning Sunday after a security assessment with senior military and intelligence officials.

The Israeli leaders said the military would increase targeted operations against those responsible and could evacuate residents from areas inside Gaza identified as launch sites.

Recent Launches Raise Security Concerns

Israeli media reported that four kites were discovered in communities near the Gaza border on Saturday, while the Israeli military said it intercepted another kite on Sunday.

The reports put the number of kites recovered in recent days at roughly 10.

The incidents have revived memories of previous waves of incendiary kites and balloons launched from Gaza, which caused fires across agricultural areas in southern Israel.

Israeli military officials reportedly believe Hamas was responsible for the latest launches. The devices discovered so far were not reported to have carried explosives, and Israeli authorities are examining whether the launches could have been intended to test Israel’s response.

In their joint statement, Netanyahu and Katz warned that Israel would not tolerate continued launches toward its territory.

Hamas Denies Responsibility

Hamas has rejected the Israeli allegations and denied responsibility for the launches.

Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, said the kites were launched by children in Gaza, describing them as youngsters seeking to reclaim a sense of normal childhood amid the destruction and rubble.

The group also accused Israel of using the incidents as a justification for further military action.

New Threats Along Gaza Border

The latest tensions have caused concern among Israeli communities near the Gaza border, many of which were attacked during the Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Uri Epstein, a leader representing communities in the area, told Israeli Channel 12 that residents no longer wanted assurances that the situation would simply improve.

He called on the military to act before the situation escalates.

Israel's warning comes as the Gaza conflict remains highly volatile, with the possibility of renewed military action raising fears of further casualties and displacement.

Gaza Reports Deadly Israeli Strikes

Hamas separately accused Israel of using the kite launches as a pretext for airstrikes in central Gaza on Sunday.

According to Gaza's Civil Defence rescue service, three people were killed in the reported strikes.

The claims could not immediately be independently verified, and Israel has not publicly linked the reported strikes to the kite incidents.

The latest exchange of accusations highlights the continuing fragility of the situation around Gaza, where even relatively limited incidents along the border risk triggering a wider escalation.