In brief
Israeli forces discovered a series of kites near the Gaza border that were not armed but are seen as symbolic provocations. Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed that any such act would be met with "forceful" retaliation. Hamas denies responsibility, labeling the kites as toys for displaced children and accusing Israel of using them as a pretext for continued strikes. Recent Israeli air attacks in Nuseirat, al‑Zawayda and Deir al‑Balah have injured or killed residents, amid ongoing violence that has seen more than 74,000 casualties since the conflict began. The situation underscores the strain on Gaza’s civilians and the heightened tension along the border.
By David Gritten • 1 hour ago
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has warned that the Israeli army will increase strikes on Gaza following reports of kites, drones and balloons launched from the territory. The warning follows the discovery of several unarmed kites near the Gaza border during the weekend.
Four kites were found in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, roughly 800 metres from the border, and additional lightweight objects have reportedly been spotted across southern Israel. Military sources say the kites were not equipped with explosives and do not pose an immediate threat.
Katz emphasized that the response would be swift and harsh, stating: “A balloon is treated like a kite, and a kite is treated like a drone, with or without explosives.” He warned against a strategy of containment over security concerns.
The kibbutz residents issued a statement fearing a return of incendiary kites and balloons and insisted they would not accept any policy that threatened their safety.
Hamas has denied responsibility for the new kites, describing them as merely children’s toys from displacement camps and calling Israel’s threat a fabricated pretext for ongoing aggression.
In the past week two people died and seven others were injured in Israeli strikes at Nuseirat refugee camp and at al‑Zawayda town in central Gaza. The military killed a Hamas weapons manufacturing commander in the Maghazi area and warned residents to evacuate beforehand.
A four‑year‑old boy was killed when a building in al‑Zawayda was bombed, and a disturbingly nearby resident expressed “We want solutions, we want to live in peace.”
On Monday, authorities reported the death of Mohammed Abu Asad in an overnight strike on a tent in the central town of Deir al‑Balah. He was identified as a member of Hamas’s elite Nukhba forces involved in the 7 October 2023 assault on southern Israel.
Since the conflict started, Israeli attacks have killed more than 74,420 people—over 1,200 casualties recorded since the cease‑fire began in October. The ongoing situation illustrates the painful toll on Gaza’s civilian population and the heightened tension along the Gaza‑Israel border.
