Hamas, Gazan NGO cm'tee warn parents to stop children flying kites after Israel threatens strikes
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- Gaza's "popular committees," coordinated with Hamas, warned parents to stop children flying kites due to Israeli threats of strikes.
- Israel previously warned Hamas that those launching incendiary kites or balloons would be targeted, with launch areas ordered to evacuate.
- The warning aims to prevent a recurrence of 2018 incidents where incendiary kites caused widespread fires, while also protecting children from potential Israeli retaliation.
Parents in the Gaza Strip have been cautioned to prevent their children from flying kites, following Israeli threats of a forceful response if Hamas revives the tactic of launching incendiary kites across the border. The warning was issued by the "popular committees," a group of local non-government organizations, in coordination with Hamas authorities.
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.
The "popular committees" stated they are working to stop the practice not to restrict children's play but to "protect their innocent lives." This measure comes after several kites, though not reportedly carrying incendiary materials, were spotted drifting from Gaza into Israel in the past month. These sightings alarmed Israelis, particularly those in villages near Gaza that were attacked during the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre.
In 2018, Gazans used incendiary balloons and kites to protest the Israeli blockade, causing fires across hundreds of acres of fields and farmlands. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently warned Hamas that individuals responsible for launching kites, balloons, or drones toward Israel would face assassination, and launch areas would be ordered to evacuate.
those responsible for launching kites, balloons, or drones toward Israel would be targets of assassination and that areas from which they are sent will be ordered to evacuate.
A senior Israeli defense official suggested Hamas is aiming to provoke Israel by encouraging kite flying. However, a Hamas official told Reuters that Israel is using the kite issue as a "fake pretext to continue the war on Gaza." Israel has reportedly complained to the US-overseen Board of Peace regarding the kite launches.
Israel was making fake pretexts to continue the war on Gaza.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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