US-led Gaza peace board warns Hamas against flying kites

The US-led board overseeing a Gaza peace plan cautioned Hamas against flying kites on Tuesday, following Israel's threat of retaliatory strikes. The board conveyed this message through the established mechanism, according to an official on President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, speaking on condition of anonymity. Both Hamas and Israel must adhere to the ceasefire, with military actions limited to genuine and imminent threats, the official stated.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously threatened Israel would intensify operations in Gaza if Hamas launched kites, drones, or balloons.

The warning followed the discovery of kites near the Gaza border in southern Israel, communities still reeling from the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023. While the latest kites do not appear to contain explosives, Israeli media reported one with a political message. Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim expressed outrage at the warning, accusing the Board of Peace of appeasing war criminal Netanyahu and describing children's kite flying as armed activities.

The UN described the Israeli threats over kites as unacceptable, emphasizing that expelling children for such activities is outrageous.

Established in October to oversee the ceasefire in Gaza, the Board of Peace has seen Israel's actions expand further into Gaza and continue strikes, resulting in 1,288 Palestinian deaths according to Hamas' health authorities. On Monday, Gaza authorities reported Israeli fire killing at least five people, including two children.

Netanyahu, facing elections in October, had previously rejected the latest stage of the Gaza peace plan after Hamas agreed to disarm. He expressed skepticism over the promises and told Trump's envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner last week that a US general should oversee verifying the destruction of all Hamas' weapons. In response, the Board of Peace assured Netanyahu that Israeli troops need not leave Gaza until Hamas is completely demilitarized. Earlier, the board had called for a phased withdrawal by Israel.