Israel threatens to intensify Gaza strikes, displace more Palestinians over kite launches

Israel threatens to intensify Gaza strikes, displace more Palestinians over kite launches Israel warned Hamas it would intensify strikes in Gaza if drones, balloons and kites continue to be launched from the Strip toward Israeli settlements, Netanyahu's office said in a statement on Sunday. Over the weekend, Israeli media reported that several kites, believed to be launched from Gaza, had landed near Israeli settlements adjacent to Gaza, noting that they were not carrying explosives and posed no danger. Netanyahu and defence minister Israel Katz held a meeting on Sunday with the Israeli military chief of staff, the head of the National Security Council and other officials, according to Haaretz. Katz said that he had directed Israeli forces to respond "forcefully" to the launching of kites, balloons and drones from Gaza, and to take steps to stop them. The measures, Katz said, would include targeting Hamas commanders “responsible for the launches” and displacing residents from neighbourhoods where the kites were launched. “A balloon is like a kite, and a kite is like a drone, whether it carries explosives or not,” he added.