Netanyahu warns of 'targeted strikes' if Hamas doesn't stop kites from flying toward Israel
For Omar Halawa, 13, flying his kite is the only thing he enjoys doing in war-torn Gaza
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he → warn → Gaza
The Israeli government is threatening to increase "targeted strikes" on Gaza unless Hamas takes action to prevent kites used by Palestinians, including children, from flying toward Israel.
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Hamas → threaten → Israel
In a statement posted to social media platform X on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he and Defence Minister Israel Katz held a "situational assessment" on Sunday evening to discuss the “threat of drones, balloons and kites launched from the Gaza Strip toward Israel."
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he → post → Israel
He said the meeting was also attended by Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, chief of the general staff; the head of the National Security Council; and senior officials of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
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meeting → say → Forces
Netanyahu went on to say that Israel was warning Hamas that if the launches did not cease immediately, "the IDF will act to increase targeted strikes against those responsible for the launches and will evacuate the population from areas used as launch sites for kites, drones, and balloons.
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IDF → go → kites
"Israel will not allow the Hamas terrorist organization or any other element in the Gaza Strip to threaten our communities again and compromise our citizen’s sense of security," he said.
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he → allow → security
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz held a situational assessment this evening regarding the threat of drones, balloons and kites launched from the Gaza Strip toward Israel.
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Netanyahu → hold → Israel
The discussion was attended by Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal…
—IsraeliPM
But for Omar Halawa, 13, flying a kite by the shore in Khan Younis is his only reprieve during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip.
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which → attend → Strip
"We fly kites so we can change our moods," he told CBC freelance videographer Mohamed El Saife.
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he → fly → Saife
"There is nothing left in Gaza to make us happy."
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us → be → Gaza
Omar said he's been building kites himself, making the fringe on the sides as well as the tail.
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he → say → sides
He said he's aware of the warnings Netanyahu has placed on those who fly them.
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who → say → them
"We don't use any missiles, we are children," he said.
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he → use → missiles
"We don’t deal with Hamas, we want to live."
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we → deal → Hamas
As Israel’s military advances its yellow line, Gazans fear they’re being pushed to the sea
Israel opens criminal probes over killings of 6-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, Gaza rescue workers
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Israel → advance → girl
In the period before the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel that sparked the war, Israel said burning kites and balloons were sent from Gaza, causing fires and other damage.
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kites → lead → fires
Israeli officials now say several kites were found in a kibbutz near Gaza.
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kites → say → Gaza
No weapons or dangerous materials were attached.
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weapons → attach → ?
Netanyahu's latest move comes as Israeli strikes and tank fire killed at least four people on Monday, including two children, hospital officials said, a week after a U.S. delegation asked Israel to draw down attacks.
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delegation → come → attacks
The strikes hit the Bureij and Shati refugee camps, Khan Younis and a tent in Deir al-Balah.
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strikes → hit → Balah
Two children, aged four and 10, were killed, along with two men.
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children → kill → men
The Oct. 7 attack on Israel killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.
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251 → kill → tallies
Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed more than 73,422 Palestinians, according to the enclave's Health Ministry, which says since a ceasefire took effect last October, Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 1,288 Palestinians.
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airstrikes → kill → Palestinians
In a post on the Telegram messaging platform, Hamas said Netanyahu's statements about children flying kites "confirm a premeditated intention to continue the aggression and proceed with the plans of displacement and genocide."
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children → say → displacement
The group said the recent strikes by Israel were a "further escalation in committing brutal crimes" against Palestinians and a "blatant disregard" of international law.
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strikes → say → law
It also demanded that the Trump administration and mediators condemn Israel's actions and compel it to "adhere to the roadmap leading to a genuine ceasefire in Gaza."
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administration → demand → Gaza
Omar said he's now afraid to fly kites in case a strike happens because of him, and "everyone would be killed around me....
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everyone → say → me
I don’t want to die, there is no security."
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I → want → ?
His mother, Yasmin Halawa, 38, said her son lost everything and can't afford to also lose his kite.
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son → say → kite
"He lost his school, his soccer game, his swimming," she said.
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she → lose → school
"So he decided to make a kite."
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he → decide → kite
Halawa said she's worried that more bans will come down on children's activities because of security issues raised by Israel.
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bans → say → Israel
As the sun set, the children continued flying their kites, this time near their tents rather than on the shore of the Mediterranean.
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children → set → Mediterranean
