UN Condemns Israel's Threat to Evacuate Gaza Residents Over Kite Flying

The United Nations has condemned Israel’s threat to expel Palestinians from areas of the Gaza Strip where kites were being flown by children. UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani stated, "On the threat of expulsion due to children’s kite flying, I hope we can all agree that this is outrageous," during a press briefing on Tuesday. Israel warned Hamas on Sunday that it would intensify military operations if kites, drones, or balloons continued to be launched, stating that those responsible would be targeted. Several kites not carrying incendiary devices have reportedly drifted into southern Israeli communities over the past month. These incidents have evoked memories of incendiary kites and balloons launched from Gaza in 2018, which Palestinians described as a protest against the Israeli blockade. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement on Sunday, warning Hamas that if the launches toward Israel do not cease immediately, Israeli forces would intensify targeted operations against those responsible and evacuate the population from areas from which kites, drones, and balloons are launched. Gaza’s popular committees, in coordination with Hamas authorities, urged parents on Monday to prevent their children from flying kites to protect their lives. A mother in Gaza City, Umm Mohammed, expressed concern for her child, stating, "Every summer, my kid, Ahmed, and the kids in the street fly those kites to entertain themselves. But [now] I will not allow him to – not any more." Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, rejected the Israeli warning, questioning the characterization of children's activities as armed actions while criticizing ongoing Israeli actions. The dispute arises amid a ceasefire in Gaza that has not stopped Israeli attacks, with more than 1,280 Palestinians reported killed since the ceasefire began in October, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.