Israeli Defense Minister Katz Vows Strong Response to Gaza Balloon and Drone Attacks

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated on Monday that Israel will not tolerate continued launches of balloons and kites from Gaza toward southern Israeli communities. Katz warned that if these attacks persist, Israel will respond with strong measures to end the phenomenon. He emphasized that the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, has instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward these incendiary devices.

Katz stressed that from a security perspective, there is no difference between balloons, kites, or drones launched toward Israeli territory, whether or not they carry explosives. He also criticized the security policies in place before the October 7 attacks, stating he would not allow a repeat of those policies either from the air or near the border fences.

Regarding military strategy in Gaza, Katz presented the establishment of a security zone as an alternative to repeated raids. He explained that unlike the previous approach, which allowed Hamas to repeatedly return to the same areas, the current policy involves building a strong security zone free of residents and terrorist infrastructure. The IDF controls this area to protect soldiers and communities, and Katz vowed that no attempts to circumvent this control would be permitted.