In a first, the IDF targeted a leader of the Palestinian incendiary kite squads as Gaza terrorists continued to set fire to Israel’s south.
By: United with Israel Staff
Israel has stepped up its actions against Gaza-based Palestinians terrorizing the south of the country with airborne arson as fires continued to ravage the green countryside and agricultural fields over the weekend.
On Saturday night, an IDF aircraft targeted the vehicle of one of the leaders of the squads that have been launching explosive balloons and kites from the northern Gaza Strip. The terror leader was not in the car, and this appears to have been a warning.
The air strike was carried out in response to the series of arson attacks on Israel, the IDF stated.
The IDF has cautioned numerous times against this terrorist activity and has carried out similar warnings in recent days.
“These are acts of terror that endanger Israeli residents living in southern Israel,” the IDF stated. “The IDF is determined to continue to act with increasing intensity against these acts of terror.”
On Saturday, several fire kites and balloons landed in various locations throughout Israel’s south, igniting some 20 massive blazes that took firefighters hours to extinguish.
On Friday an IDF aircraft targeted an observation post belonging to the Hamas terror organization in the northern Gaza Strip. The post was located adjacent to an area from which explosives and arson balloons were launched towards Israel. At least two Palestinians were wounded in that strike.
“The IDF views the use of incendiary balloons and kites with great severity and will operate to prevent their use,” the IDF stated after the strike
Earlier in the day, the IDF identified a group of Palestinians in the southern Gaza Strip preparing explosive balloons. In response, an IDF aircraft fired warning shots at the terrorists and towards a nearby vehicle.
430 Fires Across Israel’s South
Israeli farmers in proximity to Gaza have been subjected to hundreds of burning kites. Dozens of blazes have destroyed several hundred acres of wood and farmland and have ruined produce worth millions of shekels.
Palestinian terrorists have launched more than 600 incendiary kites into Israel since the start of the “March of Return” some 11 weeks ago.
Despite the IDF’s best efforts to stop the kites in flight, more than 200 have managed to set fire to Israeli fields and property. More than 430 fires have erupted, and 2,000 acres of wood and farmland have been damaged by the flames.
Israel has deployed drones to cut down the kites, with limited success. Due to the lack of a comprehensive solution to this low-tech, cheap weapon, there have been increasing calls in Israel to the IDF to respond as they would to any other terrorists threatening the country and to shoot the kite fliers.
Many of the kites are painted with swastikas, revealing the Palestinian rioters’ true intentions and anti-Semitism.