UN: Israel threats to expel Gazans over kite-flying ‘outrageous’

The United Nations has condemned Israel's threat to expel Gazans for launching kites, drones, and balloons from the Gaza Strip, describing it as "outrageous" rhetoric. Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the UN rights office, expressed her dismay at the Israeli leaders' remarks during a press conference in Geneva.

In response to a surge in such incidents, Israel had warned Hamas on Sunday that it would escalate operations in Gaza if the launches continued. However, Hamas has denied any responsibility for the launches. Israeli media reported that four kites were discovered near the Gaza border on Saturday, and one was destroyed by the Israeli military on Sunday, raising the total to approximately 10.

The repeated kite launches have sparked memories of past events where incendiary kites and balloons were launched from Gaza, igniting fires in southern Israel's agricultural lands. Israeli authorities suspect Hamas of orchestrating these launches, which do not carry explosives and may have been a means to gauge Israel's response.

Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas' political bureau, stated in a statement that the kites were launched by children seeking a normal childhood amidst the rubble of Gaza. Hamas also accused Israel of using the kites as a pretext for airstrikes in central Gaza on Sunday, resulting in three deaths, according to Gaza's civil defense rescue service.

The UN spokeswoman emphasized that Sunday's statement is part of a series of escalating threats from Israeli authorities, who display "utter contempt for international human rights and humanitarian law" and incite violence that could constitute atrocity crimes.