Israeli Border Council Warns of Escalating Threat from Gaza Kites to Explosive Drones

Bar Manshuri, head of the security department at the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council, warned on Sunday that the recent appearance of incendiary kites launched from Gaza signals a dangerous normalization of the threat, potentially escalating to explosive drones. Over the past two weeks, seven kites have been detected near Israeli communities bordering Gaza, including one found Monday near Kibbutz Kfar Aza and four others near Nahal Oz. Although none carried incendiary or explosive materials, residents and officials fear the same patterns that led to the 2018 kite terror campaign are reemerging.

Manshuri emphasized that the concern is not the colorful kites themselves but the underlying processes, noting that Hamas commanders are believed to be directing children and teenagers to launch them. She stressed the need for proactive and aggressive responses from the military and government to prevent complacency, stating, "The biggest danger is normalization because the kites currently carry no incendiary or explosive devices. We must ensure we are not surprised."

She warned that without effective solutions, the threat will escalate from harmless kites to incendiary kites, explosive balloons, and eventually drones equipped with explosives. Manshuri called for maintaining strong defensive capabilities within the communities, highlighting the role of local defense teams and the importance of ongoing training and readiness.

Representatives from the Gaza border communities expressed frustration with the Israeli military's current approach, which they see as too lenient and reactive. They fear Hamas will continue to escalate attacks unchecked, similar to the period before the October 7 massacre. Manshuri concluded by urging the public to trust that all responsible security bodies are committed to protecting residents and that even small incidents require immediate and decisive responses to avoid larger, uncontrolled attacks.