Hamas dismisses Gaza kite launches as ‘children’s toys’ amid Israeli warnings

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem rejected claims on Sunday that the organization is responsible for kites launched from Gaza toward Israel, dismissing the objects as children's toys from refugee camps. He characterized Israeli threats as an attempt to justify continued aggression. The comments followed a warning from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, who stated that if the launches do not stop immediately, the IDF will intensify interdiction against those responsible and may relocate populations from areas used for launching kites, drones, and balloons. Between Friday and Saturday, four kites were discovered near Kibbutz Nahal Oz and Kibbutz Be’eri. While no incendiary or explosive devices were reported in these specific instances, border residents expressed concern, citing past incidents where seemingly harmless kites were later used to carry fire-starting materials. Israeli security officials suspect the kites may be used for intelligence gathering ahead of larger operations involving tethered drones, and they have vowed to reach those responsible for the launches.