US-led Peace Board warns Hamas over kites in Gaza
The US-led Peace Board, which oversees the implementation of the Gaza settlement plan, warned Hamas over the launching of kites. A board representative said that all combat activity must cease in Gaza, including the launching of kites. The warning came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to intensify operations in Gaza in response to the launching of kites, drones or balloons, France 24 reports.
Requirement to observe the ceasefire
An unnamed representative of the Peace Board said that Hamas had received the relevant message through an established mechanism. He also stressed that Israel must observe the ceasefire regime and that its military actions must not go beyond responding to real and imminent threats.
Netanyahu made his statement on Sunday after reports that several kites had been detected across the Gaza border in southern Israel. The incident recalled past launches from Gaza of incendiary kites and balloons. According to Israeli media, at least one of the recovered kites carried a political message. At the same time, there is no information that these kites were equipped with explosives.
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Hamas and UN reaction
Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim criticized the Peace Board's warning, calling kite flying a children's activity. Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, also said that threats of displacement because children fly kites are unacceptable.
The Peace Board was created on the initiative of US President Donald Trump to oversee the ceasefire announced in October. Since then, Israel has moved somewhat deeper into Gaza and continued carrying out strikes. According to Gaza health authorities controlled by Hamas, 1,288 Palestinians have been killed in the strikes; the UN generally considers these figures reliable. On Monday, Gaza authorities reported at least five people killed by Israeli fire, including two children.
Earlier, Netanyahu rejected the next stage of the peace plan after Hamas said it had agreed to disarm. Later, the Peace Board assured the Israeli prime minister that Israeli troops should not leave Gaza until Hamas is fully demilitarized, although it had previously called for a phased troop withdrawal.
