{
  "id": 2870993,
  "title": "Israel warns Hamas over kite launches from Gaza",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/israel-warns-hamas-over-kite-launches-from-gaza-2870993",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-23T21:06:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2026/08/24/israel-warns-hamas-over-kite-launches-from-gaza"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jerusalem - Israel has issued a stern warning to Hamas, stating it will intensify military operations in Gaza if the launches of kites, drones and balloons towards Israel continue, following a recent surge in such incidents. The Israeli military has recovered around 10 kites in communities near the Gaza border, with one being intercepted by the army on Sunday, raising the total to approximately 10. These launches, which do not carry explosives, have revived memories of past waves of incendiary kites and balloons launched from Gaza, which ignited fires in southern Israel's agricultural lands. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, have stated that if the launches persist, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will intensify targeted operations against those responsible and evacuate populations from areas from which the kites, drones and balloons are launched. Hamas has denied responsibility for the launches, with a member of the group claiming the kites were launched by children seeking their lost childhood amidst the rubble. The Islamist group also accused Israel of using the kites as a pretext for airstrikes in central Gaza on Sunday, which resulted in three deaths according to Gaza's civil defense rescue service.",
  "summary": "The incidents revive memories of incendiary kites and balloons from Gaza that sparked fires across southern Israel’s agricultural lands.",
  "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."
}