“We see every launch as an act of war in every sense,” Katz said.
By United with Israel Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hamas on Sunday evening that Israel would escalate targeted strikes in Gaza and evacuate civilians from launch areas if the recent wave of kites, balloons and drones crossing into Israel does not stop immediately.
The warning followed a security assessment convened by Netanyahu and Katz on the emerging threat. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the head of the National Security Council and senior military officials participated in the discussion.
“Israel warns Hamas that if the launches toward Israel do not stop immediately, the IDF will act to increase targeted eliminations against those responsible for the launches and evacuate the population from areas from which kites, drones and balloons are launched,” the Prime Minister’s Office and Defense Ministry said in a joint statement.
Netanyahu stressed that Israel would not return to the security reality that existed before the October 7 massacre.
“Israel will not allow the Hamas terrorist organization or any other element in the Gaza Strip to once again threaten our communities and undermine our citizens’ sense of security,” the statement said.
The warning came after another kite believed to have crossed from Gaza was discovered at Kibbutz Kfar Aza on Sunday morning, following four similar incidents over the weekend.
The IDF said troops conducting searches had located three additional kites after another was detected a day earlier, bringing the number discovered in recent days to at least five.
Residents of Gaza border communities have expressed concern that the launches could be intended to test Israeli defenses and flight paths for future attacks. They pointed in particular to the long strings attached to the kites, which they fear could be used to identify routes toward Israeli communities or IDF troops.
“This is exactly how escalation begins again — we must not ignore it and contain it again,” residents warned.
Earlier Sunday, Katz ordered the IDF to respond forcefully to the phenomenon, declaring that Israel would treat launches of balloons, kites and drones as acts of war, whether or not they carry explosives.
“We will not allow a return to the reality before October 7, and anyone who organizes, launches or enables the launches will be dealt with immediately and with full severity,” Katz said.
The head of the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council similarly called for an immediate response, arguing that Israel must stop the phenomenon before it develops into a larger threat.
“If we want to put an end to the phenomenon when it is just beginning, we must cut it off at the initial stage and strike with force over every kite,” he said.
Meanwhile, an Israeli strike targeted the Al-Maghazi area in central Gaza on Sunday. Palestinian reports said one person was killed and two others wounded. It was not immediately clear whether the strike was connected to the kite launches.
Sunday evening’s security assessment marked a further escalation in Israel’s warnings, with Netanyahu and Katz explicitly threatening both increased targeted eliminations and evacuations of areas in Gaza used for future launches.
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