Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, have threatened a military response to kites landing in southern Israel. They have accused Hamas of planning renewed attacks using kites, balloons, and drones from the war-torn enclave.
Israel has given the Iran-backed militant group until Wednesday to rein in these activities or face reprisals. Consequently, parents in Gaza have been warned to stop their children from flying kites, as Israel has promised a forceful response if Hamas revives the tactic of launching incendiary kites over the border.
Hamas has accused Israel of utilizing the row over kite-flying to justify further attacks on Palestinians. This standoff now threatens to undermine a U.S.-brokered ceasefire from October 2025, which had brought a tentative end to the all-out war between Israel and Hamas.