Israel threatens Gaza strikes over kites flown by Palestinian children

Israel has threatened to launch further strikes in Gaza over paper kites flown by Palestinian children.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the kites would be treated as drones and described them as an “act of war”, ordering Israeli forces to respond “forcefully”. Israeli officials said the measures could include targeting Hamas commanders they hold responsible for the launches.

Over the weekend, Israeli media reported that several kites, believed to have been launched from Gaza, had landed near Nahal Oz Kibbutz, an illegal Israeli settlement adjacent to Gaza.

Israeli military sources acknowledged that the kites were being flown by Palestinian children and said no suspicious materials had been found on them or that they posed any danger to the public.