{
  "id": 2870680,
  "title": "Israel is using children’s kites as pretext to strike Gaza: Hamas",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/israel-is-using-childrens-kites-as-pretext-to-strike-gaza-hamas",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-23T21:23:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israel-using-childrens-kites-pretext-strike-gaza-hamas"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Israel has warned Hamas that it will intensify operations in Gaza if launches of kites, drones, and balloons towards Israel continue. According to Israeli media, around 10 kites were found in communities near the Gaza border in recent days, with one shot down by the army on Sunday. The Israeli military believes Hamas is behind the launches, which did not carry explosives.\n\nThe Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, has given Hamas a three-day deadline to halt the launches. If the launches do not cease, Israel will take action to intensify targeted operations against those responsible and evacuate the population from areas where the kites, drones, and balloons are launched.\n\nHamas has responded to Israel's warning, with spokesperson Hazem Qassem saying that threatening children over kite launches amounts to an attempt to undermine a ceasefire. Qassem called on the US, the UN Security Council, and mediating states to pressure Israel into halting its actions.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Commander of Hamas weapons production site killed",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/commander-of-hamas-weapons-production-site-killed",
        "published": "2026-08-23T15:28:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "IDF kills Hamas commander, attacks weapons production site near aid center in Gaza strikes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/idf-kills-hamas-commander-attacks-weapons-production-site-near-aid",
        "published": "2026-08-23T16:12:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Israel threatens to intensify Gaza strikes, displace more Palestinians over kite launches",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/israel-threatens-to-intensify-gaza-strikes-displace-more-palestinians",
        "published": "2026-08-23T17:10:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Israel warns Hamas over kite launches from Gaza",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/israel-warns-hamas-over-kite-launches-from-gaza",
        "published": "2026-08-23T17:55:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Haaretz",
        "title": "Defense Minister Katz orders IDF to 'act forcefully' in Gaza against launches of balloons, kites",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/defense-minister-katz-orders-idf-to-act-forcefully-in-gaza-against",
        "published": "2026-08-23T18:48:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "El Pais",
        "title": "Israel dice a Hamás que intensificará sus bombardeos si no cesan los lanzamientos de cometas desde Gaza",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/israel-dice-a-hamas-que-intensificara-sus-bombardeos-si-no-cesan-los",
        "published": "2026-08-23T18:50:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Qatar Tribune",
        "title": "Israel kills three Palestinians, including four-year-old child, in central Gaza",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/israel-kills-three-palestinians-including-four-year-old-child-in",
        "published": "2026-08-23T21:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Israel warns Hamas over kite launches from Gaza",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/israel-warns-hamas-over-kite-launches-from-gaza-2870776",
        "published": "2026-08-23T21:06:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}