Israel accused of using kites as pretext to justify escalating Gaza attacks

Israel has threatened Palestinian groups against launching 'kites, drones, and balloons' from the war-torn enclave.

Hamas says the kites found in Israeli border communities in recent days were launched by children in Gaza.

For days, Israel's concern over kites and balloons launched from Gaza has intensified, transforming Palestinian children's toys into a "security issue".

Four-year-old boy among 2 killed in Gaza airstrikesAt least two people, including a four-year-old boy, were killed and seven others wounded in two Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Sunday.This comes as Israel threatened to intensify attacks following what it said were launches of balloons, drones and kites from G

Israel is using children’s kites as pretext to strike Gaza: Hamas Hamas said Israel is fabricating a pretext to intensify attacks on Gaza, after Israel threatened broad evacuations and air assaults if paper kites from the Strip continued to be launched. Earlier on Sunday, a statement by Netanyahu's office said Is

The Israeli military believes Hamas was behind the launches, and may have been testing how Israel would respond.

Israel Defense Minister Katz orders IDF to retaliate against Gaza kite launches  Haaretz

Security source says IDF "is not underestimating the threat," but will need to "wait and see if this becomes a trend" • Military believes Hamas using Palestinian teenagers to launch kites into Israel