Hamas on Sunday denied involvement in a series of kites launched from Gaza toward southern Israel, portraying them as harmless children’s toys even as Israeli leaders warned that continued launches involving kites, balloons or drones would prompt intensified IDF action.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem rejected Israeli concerns over the objects and accused Israel of using the incidents as a pretext for further military activity in Gaza.
“We warn of the seriousness of Israel’s claims and threats regarding the launching of kites, which are in fact children’s toys in the refugee camps, in what remains of the Gaza Strip’s territory, 70% of which is controlled by the Israeli military,” Qassem said, as quoted by Channel 12 News.
“These threats are an attempt to justify the continuation of the aggression and violations,” he further claimed.
Qassem was responding after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a warning following a security assessment focused on drones, balloons and kites being sent from Gaza toward Israeli territory.
“Israel is warning Hamas that if launches toward Israel are not stopped immediately, the IDF will act to intensify interdiction against those responsible for the launches and will move populations out of areas from which kites, drones, and balloons are set to be launched,” they said.
The heightened concern follows the discovery of four kites between Friday and Saturday in the vicinity of Kibbutz Nahal Oz and Kibbutz Be’eri. Residents of Gaza border communities have called on Israeli security officials to thoroughly investigate the incidents rather than assume that the objects pose no threat.
Authorities reportedly found no explosives or incendiary materials attached to the four kites. Nevertheless, residents have pointed to Israel’s previous experience with kite launches from Gaza, when objects that initially appeared harmless were eventually followed by incendiary kites that sparked fires throughout communities and agricultural areas near the border.
The four discoveries are part of a broader series of similar incidents recorded in recent months. A kite bearing Arabic writing was found near Nahal Oz during the past week, while another was discovered near Moshav Shuva one week earlier. At least seven kites have now been located in the Gaza border region since the October 7 attack.
The renewed activity has prompted authorities to revive a warning that residents had not received since the incendiary balloon campaign of 2018 and 2019: “If you spot a kite, foreign balloon, or drone, do not approach or touch it.”
Israeli defense officials are concerned that seemingly innocuous kites could eventually be modified to carry explosive devices.
Security officials are also examining whether the launches could serve another purpose beyond carrying explosives, including the possibility that they are being used to collect intelligence in preparation for a more sophisticated attack involving tethered drones.
“The kites, which are launched using an especially long string, are being used to gather intelligence ahead of a major operation involving tethered drones. We are tracking the kites and continuing our policy of thwarting threats. The message is that we will also reach those behind the launching of these kites.”
{Matzav.com}
