Israel Kills 3 in Gaza Strikes as Netanyahu Threatens Escalation Over 10 Paper Kites
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 23
Israel Kills 3 in Gaza Strikes as Netanyahu Threatens Escalation Over 10 Paper Kites
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 23
Summary
Three Palestinians were killed in Israeli air attacks across central and southern Gaza on Sunday, including 4-year-old Muhammad Abdel Salam Taha, as missiles flattened a warehouse in az-Zawayda and hit near Salah al-Din Street.
A joint statement from Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened harsher attacks and possible displacement from areas allegedly used to launch kites, drones and balloons.
Israeli military inspections, however, found only 10 paper kites with no explosives, and the report said they were flown by children in displacement camps.
Palestinian and Israeli affairs analysts said the kite issue was being inflated to block a US-backed 15-point ceasefire plan Hamas had accepted and to bolster Netanyahu before October elections.
The episode deepens fears that minor incidents are being used to justify broader military escalation and demographic pressure in Gaza despite ceasefire efforts.