Archive · 25 Aug 2026
UN Condemns Israel Threats Over Gaza Kite Launches
The United Nations criticized Israel for threatening to remove people from parts of Gaza where kites and other objects are launched toward Israel.
Israel said it may increase military operations if the launches continue.
Israel also said people could be evacuated from places used to launch them.
Hamas denied being responsible for the launches.
A Hamas official said children were flying the kites while trying to find some normal childhood in the rubble.
Hamas said Israel was using the launches as an excuse for airstrikes.
Gaza’s civil defense service said three people died in those strikes on Sunday.
The UN said the threats were unacceptable and could violate international law.
The United Nations condemned Israel’s threat to expel residents from areas in Gaza where kites, drones and balloons are launched.
Israel warned Hamas that it would intensify operations if launches toward Israel continued, and said residents could be evacuated from launch areas.
Hamas denied responsibility, saying children launched the kites while seeking normal childhood amid Gaza’s destruction.
Israel said the launches were linked to Hamas and may have tested Israel’s response, though the objects reportedly carried no explosives.
Hamas accused Israel of using the kites as a pretext for airstrikes that Gaza’s civil defense service said killed three people on Sunday.
- Who
- The United Nations, Israeli leaders, Hamas and residents and children in Gaza are involved.
- What
- The UN condemned Israel’s threat to evacuate or expel people from areas used to launch kites, drones and balloons toward Israel.
- When
- The UN criticism was issued Tuesday; Israel’s warning was made Sunday, following a recent increase in launches.
- Where
- The events concern the Gaza border and areas of Gaza; the UN comments were made in Geneva.
- Why
- Israel said it wanted to stop launches toward Israel, while the UN objected to threats against civilian populations and Hamas disputed Israel’s account.
UN and Hamas Criticism
Israeli Security Response
Threatened evacuations
UN and Hamas Criticism
The UN said expelling or evacuating residents because of children’s kite flying was outrageous and described Israeli rhetoric as unacceptable.
Israeli Security Response
Israel said it would evacuate the population from areas from which kites, drones and balloons were launched if the launches did not stop.
Responsibility for launches
UN and Hamas Criticism
Hamas denied responsibility and said the kites were launched by children seeking normal childhood amid the rubble.
Israeli Security Response
The Israeli military reportedly believed Hamas was behind the launches and may have been testing Israel’s response.
Airstrikes and justification
UN and Hamas Criticism
Hamas accused Israel of using the kites as a pretext for airstrikes in central Gaza; Gaza’s civil defense service said three people were killed.
Israeli Security Response
Israel warned that continued launches toward its territory would lead to intensified targeted operations against those responsible.
- UN position
- UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani called the threat of expulsion over children’s kite flying outrageous.
- Israeli warning
- Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Katz said Israel would intensify targeted operations and evacuate residents from launch areas if the launches continued.
- Objects recovered
- Israeli media reported that about 10 kites had been recovered in recent days, including four near border communities on Saturday.
- Explosives
- The reported launches did not carry explosives, according to the article.
- Hamas position
- Hamas denied responsibility and said children launched the kites while searching for an innocent childhood.
- Reported casualties
- Gaza’s civil defense rescue service said three people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on central Gaza on Sunday.