Erdan on Gaza border: Explosive kites are back - time to make Hamas pay a heavy price

For the past week, people living near the Israel-Gaza border have noticed kites coming from Gaza, recalling past tensions. Kites and balloons have been a preferred tactic for Hamas to irritate southern Israel, with fires becoming a regular occurrence. This situation escalated into a strategic campaign that Israel found challenging to manage. Therefore, recent kite sightings should not be dismissed as mere curiosities while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tries to determine if they part of a larger plan.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hamas that further launches would result in a tougher Israeli response. Katz went as far as to state that Israel would not revert to the pre-October 7 situation, a promise that must be upheld with tangible actions. Reports indicate that at least six kites have crossed into Israel over the past week, with some speculating the number might be higher.

None of the recovered kites contained explosives, and no Israeli lives were at risk. The IDF believes the young Palestinians, possibly as young as 12 or 13, are launching these kites, likely under Hamas' instruction.

A troubling comment emerged from a military official who stated that while the IDF takes the incidents seriously, they need to wait and see if this turns into a trend. Israel has experienced this trend before; it must act promptly to prevent it from becoming a bigger threat. The IDF has responded to such tactics in the past, including targeting Hamas positions and squads preparing incendiary devices. However, the pattern was all too familiar before October 7.

Residents near the Gaza border have every reason to be apprehensive about statements suggesting Israel should again wait to see if this is a trend. Uri Epstein, head of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council, emphasized the concern, stating that the issue is not whether a kite contains explosives. By the time soldiers detect the explosive, the question has already been answered too late. Residents should not be the ones discovering unidentified objects from Gaza and then informing the military.

This does not imply Israel should initiate a major military operation upon spotting a kite crossing the border. Proportionality and judgment are essential, but the idea that Hamas is allowed a certain number of provocations while Israel gathers evidence of a pattern must be eliminated. A border is either defended or it is not. If Hamas allows organized launch sites, it should comprehend there will be a price.

The IDF should also have clear protocols for identifying, intercepting, and dealing with anything that crosses from Gaza before locals encounter it.

Hamas has learned to adapt to Israel's threat classifications, using rockets, incendiary balloons, border riots, and other forms of harassment to apply pressure without provoking a response that could threaten its rule. October 7 demonstrated the disastrous outcomes of allowing Hamas to dictate the tempo along the border. Katz's assertion that "a balloon is treated like a kite, and a kite is treated like a drone" holds significance beyond the latest incidents.

Hamas must understand that the old rules no longer apply. Israel has paid too high a price to relearn this lesson. The kites crossing the border today may be harmless, but the next ones might not. We should not wait and see.