Gaza’s children grew up flying kites. Now Israel says they will be treated as drones

For many Palestinians living in Gaza, the idea that a child's kite could trigger an attack on their community is a growing worry following Israel's recent threat. Marwan Al Harazeen, a 55-year-old resident of northern Gaza who recently relocated to Deir Al Balah, urged parents to discourage their children from flying kites. "We need to take any Israeli threat seriously because they will exploit any justification for their attacks," Mr Al Harazeen stated to The National.

The warning emerged after Israeli authorities discovered at least four kites from Gaza in the Nahal Oz kibbutz near the border on the weekend. The Israeli army declared the kites harmless, but the incident reminded many of a campaign of attacks using incendiary kites and balloons that ignited wildfires in Israel between 2018 and 2021.

Mkhaimar Abusada, a Palestinian political analyst, noted that while kites were indeed used during the Great March of Return protests in 2018 to breach the blockade, the current situation is distinct as these kites merely carry burning materials.

Defence Minister Israel Katz declared a policy of "zero-tolerance and zero-containment" towards kites and balloons launched from Gaza towards the Negev settlements. He warned that if the launches persist, Israel will take significant action against the phenomenon, treating kites and balloons as if they were armed drones, regardless of whether they carry explosives.

Critics argue that Israel might attempt to draw a parallel with past attacks to justify stronger military measures in Gaza, despite a US-brokered ceasefire with Hamas since October last year.

Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may also exploit the issue domestically with approaching Israeli elections, as he failed to fulfill his promise to eliminate Hamas following the October 7, 2023 attack that initiated the war. Abusada cautioned that the Palestinian community must acknowledge the potential consequences and work to prevent the kite issue from escalating.

He suggested that families should discourage children from flying kites, as the current situation is already extremely challenging for many Palestinians and an escalation could be triggered by a seemingly innocuous child's kite.