Israel’s Defense Forces have reportedly stepped up efforts to thwart Palestinian Islamists in the Gaza Strip from using incendiary kites and balloons, that burnt over the course of the past several weeks large swathes of agricultural fields and forests. An Israeli fighter jet reportedly targeted a vehicle that belonged to a Hamas commander and, according to an IDF statement, ‘was transferring kites and balloons to the border region with Israel.’ Furthermore, the IDF opened tank fire toward two militant installations in the northern part of the enclave belonging to the Islamist Hamas organization, in what a military official told TV7, “was a clear signal to Gaza’s rulers that Israel will not tolerate the use of incendiary kites against its territory,” further emphasizing that “The Hamas terror organization will bear the consequences for facilitating terror and instability.”
Following the Israeli attack, Hamas Spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said that the occupation and the intentional assault on peaceful demonstrators and resistance activists demand the resistance’s swift response. Shortly thereafter, the Islamist group launched 12 rockets from the Palestinian enclave toward Israel’s southern communities. The Iron Dome anti-rocket Defense Systems intercepted three of the rockets, while the remaining rockets exploded in open areas. Thankfully, no injuries or damage were reported.