Israeli defense minister threatens Gaza assassinations, evacuations over balloon launches

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened on Sunday to carry out assassinations and evacuate residential neighbourhoods in the Gaza Strip over the launch of balloons and kites toward Israeli settlements near the enclave. In recent days, Israeli media alleged that several kites launched from Gaza had landed near settlements adjacent to the enclave, noting that they were not carrying explosives. Katz said in a statement cited by Israel Hayom newspaper that he had instructed the Israeli army to “act forcefully” against the launch of balloons, kites and drones from Gaza and take measures to prevent them. The measures would include “thwarting Hamas leaders responsible for the launches and the operatives themselves, and evacuating neighbourhoods and areas from which the launches are carried,” he added. Katz described every launch as “a military action in every respect,” threatening to pursue anyone who “organises, carries out or permits the launches.” “A balloon is like a kite, and a kite is like a drone, whether it carries explosives or not,” he said. The Israeli army has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians and injured over 174,000 others in a brutal offensive since October 2023.