Jerusalem, Aug 2026 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz on Sunday warned Hamas of intensified targeted strikes if the launch of balloons, kites and drones from the Gaza Strip towards Israel does not stop immediately.
Netanyahu and Katz held a security assessment focused on the threat posed by aerial devices being launched from Gaza. The meeting was attended by Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the head of Israel’s National Security Council and senior Israel Defence Forces (IDF) officials.
In a joint statement, the Israeli government warned that continued launches would trigger stronger military action against those responsible.
“Israel warns Hamas that if the launches toward Israel do not cease immediately, the IDF will act to increase targeted strikes against those responsible,” the statement said. It also warned that residents could be evacuated from areas being used as launch sites for kites, drones and balloons.
Netanyahu stressed that Israel would not return to the security situation that existed before the October 7 attacks. He said Israel would prevent Hamas or any other group operating in Gaza from again threatening Israeli communities or undermining the security of its citizens.
The latest warning comes amid continuing efforts to address the broader security and humanitarian situation in Gaza. Last week, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said Netanyahu and the Board of Peace had agreed to establish two working groups as part of discussions on Gaza’s future.
One of the groups will focus on the disarmament and demilitarisation of Gaza. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Israel and the Board of Peace are determined that the process should be completed quickly and before reconstruction efforts begin.
A second working group will address sanitation, access to clean water and other public health concerns affecting Gaza’s population, while also having implications for Israel.
The Israeli government has repeatedly maintained that the complete disarmament of Hamas remains a central condition for any long-term security arrangement.
On August 5, Netanyahu said Israel would not withdraw its forces from their current positions in Gaza until Hamas was fully disarmed.
In a video message, Netanyahu said the IDF had been instructed to take whatever measures were necessary to protect Israeli soldiers, Israeli territory and civilians.
The latest warning over balloons, kites and drones signals that Israel remains focused on preventing even relatively low-cost aerial threats from being used to target or intimidate communities near Gaza.
The developments come as diplomatic and political efforts continue over the future governance, security arrangements and reconstruction of Gaza. While discussions on demilitarisation and humanitarian needs have begun, the latest Israeli warning highlights the continuing security tensions and the fragile nature of the situation on the ground.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
