Hamas Spokesman Denies Responsibility for Gaza Kite Launches, Calls Them Child’s Toys

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem denied responsibility for the recent kite launches from Gaza into Israeli territory, describing the kites as "children’s toys in refugee camps." He accused Israel of using the kite incidents to justify ongoing aggression and violations against Gaza. Qassem emphasized that Israel controls 70% of Gaza’s land and warned against the severity of Israel’s threats concerning the kite launches.

The remarks come amid a resurgence of kite launches from Gaza, reminiscent of the period before the Simchat Torah massacre. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz held a security briefing on August 23, 2026, with top military officials including Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi and National Security Advisor to discuss the threat posed by drones, balloons, and kites from Gaza.

Netanyahu and Katz issued a joint warning to Hamas, stating that if the launches do not cease immediately, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will intensify operations against those responsible and evacuate populations from areas used for launching these devices. Netanyahu stressed that Israel will not return to the pre-October 7 reality and will not allow Hamas or any other Gaza-based group to threaten Israeli communities or undermine citizens’ security.

Israeli security officials view the renewed kite launches as a test of the IDF’s alertness and treat the threat seriously. Previously, Israel developed the "Lahav Or" laser system, which successfully intercepted over 90% of balloons and kites in its operational area. However, renewed political and military measures are now required to prevent the resurgence of this tactic.