Amnesty urges action after Katz threatens expulsions over Gaza kites

Amnesty International has called for urgent international action after Israel’s defence minister threatened to expel Palestinians from parts of the Gaza Strip where children fly protest kites and balloons toward southern Israel.

On Thursday, Israel Katz, Israel’s defence minister, told top military leaders that the ultimatum issued following the launch of balloons and kites from Gaza had expired. “Every launching of balloons and kites from Gaza toward southern communities will be met with a severe response,” Katz said during a meeting with army chief Eyal Zamir and other senior officials.

Channel 13 reported that Katz instructed the military to expel Palestinians from areas near the Gaza border where such launches occur. The directive follows a long-standing pattern of Israeli responses to incendiary devices launched from Gaza, which have caused fires and damage in southern Israel.

Amnesty International sharply criticized the policy, stating in a post on X that “third states must act and end Israel’s genocide. No more impunity for Israel’s disregard for international law.” The human rights group argued that treating children’s kites and balloons as military threats denies them any sense of normalcy or joy amid years of conflict.

The statement from Katz’s office, which equates kites and balloons with military drones, has drawn widespread condemnation. Critics argue that such rhetoric escalates tensions and punishes entire communities for actions of a few. Gaza’s children, who have lived through multiple rounds of conflict and a prolonged blockade, already face severe restrictions on movement, education, and basic freedoms.

Since 2018, Palestinians in Gaza have launched kites and balloons carrying flammable materials toward Israel in protest of the blockade and to demand an end to occupation. Israel has consistently responded with military force, including airstrikes and ground operations, leading to hundreds of Palestinian deaths.

International observers have repeatedly warned that collective punishment, such as displacement or restrictions on movement, violates international humanitarian law. Amnesty International and other rights groups have urged Israel to halt policies that disproportionately affect civilians, especially children.

The Israeli military has not publicly detailed enforcement plans for the expulsion order, and it remains unclear how such measures would be implemented without further harming civilians. The situation continues to escalate, raising concerns about further violence and humanitarian impact in the Gaza Strip.

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