Gaza parents have been urged to prevent their children from flying kites in the war-torn Gaza Strip following Israeli warnings of a forceful response if Hamas revives the tactic of launching incendiary kites over the border.
The warning was issued by popular committees, representing local non-government organizations and charities operating in Gaza's displacement camps and shelters, in a statement coordinated with Hamas authorities. A source within the militant group confirmed the coordination, stating, "We are working tirelessly on the ground and doing everything possible to stop this practice, not to restrict the childhood of our children, who have already been deprived of the most basic rights to play and live in safety, but to protect their innocent lives."
In 2018, Gazans utilized incendiary balloons and kites, which caused extensive fires across hundreds of acres of open fields and farmlands, as a protest against the Israeli blockade of the Hamas-controlled enclave. In recent weeks, several kites, though not reported to be carrying incendiary materials, have been observed drifting from Gaza into Israel. This has caused alarm among residents of nearby Israeli villages that were targeted during the October 7, 2023 assault by Hamas, which initiated the ongoing Gaza war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning on Sunday, stating that if the launching of kites, balloons, or drones toward Israel does not cease immediately, those responsible will be targeted for assassination, and the areas from which they are sent will be ordered to evacuate.
Umm Mohammed, a mother from Gaza City, expressed her anxiety to Reuters via a chat application. "Every summer, my kid, Ahmed, 10, and the kids in the street fly those kites to entertain themselves, but I will not allow him to, not anymore," she said, fearing for her son's safety.
A senior Israeli defense official indicated that Hamas is attempting to provoke Israel by encouraging Gazans to fly kites across the border. Conversely, a Hamas official informed Reuters that the group has raised concerns with ceasefire mediators, alleging that "Israel was making fake pretexts to continue the war on Gaza." According to a second Israeli official, Israel previously lodged a complaint with the U.S. President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, which oversees the implementation of the 2025 Gaza ceasefire deal, regarding the kite incidents.
