The Israeli army has issued a warning to children in the Gaza Strip, threatening to target the kites they fly, claiming they pose a threat to Israel.
On Wednesday evening, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir issued directives to intensify the response and carry out targeted assassinations, following the continued launching of kites from the Gaza Strip.
“No more kite flying!” Even this simple pastime has been taken from 10-year-old Ahmed Hamdouna, like many other children in the Gaza Strip whose childhoods have been marred by years of war and the bitterness of displacement, while Israeli threats to eliminate the kites haunt them.
The boy, who was displaced to Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, says his father forbade him from flying his kite after Israel threatened to escalate its operations there if the kites continued to land on the Israeli side of the border.
He adds, “My father stopped me from flying my kites because of the occupation’s threats. I feel very sad. I spent a long time collecting sticks and nylon, only for the occupation to prevent us from playing with them.” Hamdouna asks, “What do they want from us? We’re just little kids. They destroyed our house and our entire neighborhood, what more do they want?”
The boy admits he’s afraid of the game now, but wonders, “Why is the Israeli army afraid of kites? They’re just paper and string. I don’t want to hurt anyone. I just want to play like kids everywhere else.”
Hamas said in a statement Tuesday that “popular committees in displacement camps and shelters are working to prevent children from using kites for play, fearing they will be targeted by the occupation.”
Israel has warned that it will intensify its operations in the Gaza Strip if kites, drones, or balloons are launched.
