{
  "id": 3223312,
  "title": "Gaza’s children grew up flying kites. Now Israel says they will be treated as drones",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/gazas-children-grew-up-flying-kites-now-israel-says-they-will-be-3223312",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-25T07:36:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/08/25/gazas-children-grew-up-flying-kites-now-israel-says-they-will-be-treated-as-drones/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Gaza, children once flew kites without fear, but now Israel warns such toys could provoke attacks. Marwan Al Harazeen, a displaced resident in Gaza, urged parents to stop children from flying kites amid heightened Israeli threats. This warning followed reports of four kites landing in Nahal Oz kibbutz near the border, which the Israeli military deemed harmless. However, Mkhaimar Abusada, a Palestinian political analyst, noted that while kites were once used in protests during the Great March of Return (2018-2021) to carry incendiary materials causing wildfires in Israel, today's kites serve no such purpose. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have instructed the military to adopt a \"zero-tolerance and zero-containment\" policy towards kites and balloons from Gaza. They vowed to take \"powerful actions\" if launches persist, treating kites and balloons as drones—explosive or not. Analyst Abusada suggested the issue could be contained at the community level, but warned it could escalate, especially with Israeli elections approaching and Netanyahu seeking \"absolute victory\" after failing to completely eliminate Hamas following the October 7, 2023, attacks.",
  "summary": "For many Palestinians in Gaza, the fear that a kite flown by a child could bring an attack on their neighbourhood is now a primary concern after Israel threatened to launch attacks if the toys crossed the border. Marwan Al Harazeen, 55, a resident of the northern Gaza city who was displaced to Deir Al Balah in the centre, said children regularly flew kites in the area around his tent, but their…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Erdan on Gaza border: Explosive kites are back - time to make Hamas pay a heavy price",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/erdan-on-gaza-border-explosive-kites-are-back-time-to-make-hamas-pay",
        "published": "2026-08-25T01:54:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Israel accuses Hamas of planning drone attacks using kites and balloons",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/israel-accuses-hamas-of-planning-drone-attacks-using-kites-and",
        "published": "2026-08-25T02:41:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Israel must remember the danger carried by Gaza kites, Hamas dictating tempo at border - editorial",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/israel-must-remember-the-danger-carried-by-gaza-kites-hamas-dictating",
        "published": "2026-08-25T03:26:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Israel alleges Hamas planning to use kites and balloons for fresh attacks, issues warning",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/israel-alleges-hamas-planning-to-use-kites-and-balloons-for-fresh",
        "published": "2026-08-25T04:53:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Gaza’s children grew up flying kites. Now Israel says they will be treated as drones",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/gazas-children-grew-up-flying-kites-now-israel-says-they-will-be",
        "published": "2026-08-25T07:36:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Gaza parents urged to stop kids flying kites after Israel warning to Hamas",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/gaza-parents-urged-to-stop-kids-flying-kites-after-israel-warning-to",
        "published": "2026-08-25T09:41:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Gaza parents urged to stop kids flying kites after Israel warning to Hamas",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/gaza-parents-urged-to-stop-kids-flying-kites-after-israel-warning-to-3237268",
        "published": "2026-08-25T09:46:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Maverick",
        "title": "Gaza parents urged to stop kids flying kites after Israel warning to Hamas",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/gaza-parents-urged-to-stop-kids-flying-kites-after-israel-warning-to-3236861",
        "published": "2026-08-25T10:30:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}