The Government of Israel warned this Sunday that it will intensify its military operations in the Gaza Strip and could order new evacuations of the population if the launches of kites from the Palestinian territory towards Israeli communities near the border continue.
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The warning was communicated by the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a meeting with the Defense Minister, Israel Katz, following new incidents over the weekend.
At least four kites from Gaza reached the kibbutz Nahal Oz, located less than a kilometer from the Palestinian enclave. According to the information provided, the number of flying objects recovered in recent days amounts to ten.
The Israeli Army reported that the four kites did not have explosives or other dangerous elements attached and that they did not pose a risk to the population.
Despite this, Israeli forces believe that Hamas could be behind the launches and are evaluating the possibility that it is a way to test Israel’s response. This background corresponds, so far, to an Israeli hypothesis.
After the meeting between Netanyahu and Katz, the Government warned that if the launches “do not cease immediately,” the Army will intensify its operations against those identified as responsible and will evacuate the population from the areas of Gaza from where they originate.
“Israel will not allow the terrorist organization Hamas or any other actor from the Gaza Strip to threaten our people again or undermine the sense of security of our citizens,” the joint statement says.
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The incidents have reactivated in Israeli communities near Gaza the memory of kite and incendiary balloon launches recorded since 2018.
During that period, Palestinian groups used these objects to transport incendiary material into Israeli territory, causing fires and damage to lands near the border.
The Defense Minister also raised the tone of the response and announced that he instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to act against any new object launched from Gaza.
The Secretary of State assured that he considers “each launch as an act of war in every sense” and stated that no distinctions will be made according to the type of object or whether it contains explosives.
“A balloon will be treated like a kite, and a kite like a drone, with or without explosives,” he said. Katz added that “anyone who organizes, carries out, or facilitates these launches will be dealt with immediately and with the utmost severity.”
According to Haaretz, the first of the four kites was found on Friday in an avocado field in Nahal Oz, while the other three arrived during Saturday.
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