Israel to expel Palestinians in Gaza over kites flown by children

Israel to expel Palestinians in Gaza over kites flown by children Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Fri, 08/28/2026 - 12:59 Defence minister Israel Katz vows ‘severe response’ to balloons and kites that drift into Israel A displaced Palestinian man helps a child to fly a kite near the border with Egypt in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on 28 March 2024 (Said Khatib/AFP) Off The Israeli government has instructed its military to expel Palestinians from areas of the Gaza Strip where children are flying kites and releasing balloons, Israel’s Channel 13 reported on Thursday. According to the report, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz told army chief Eyal Zamir and other senior military officials that “the ultimatum we issued following the launching of balloons and kites from the Gaza Strip towards Negev communities [in southern Israel] has expired”. “Every launching of balloons and kites from Gaza towards southern communities will be met with a severe response,” Katz said during a meeting with the military’s top command.