Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz held a situation assessment this evening (Sunday) regarding the threat of drones, balloons, and kites being launched from the Gaza Strip toward Israel.
The discussion was attended by Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, the head of the National Security Council, and senior IDF officials.
In a joint statement to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense, the two clarified: "Israel warns Hamas that if the launches towards Israel do not cease immediately, the IDF will act to increase countermeasures against those responsible for the launches and will evacuate the population from areas from which kites, drones and balloons will be launched.".
The Prime Minister emphasized: "We will not return to the reality before October 7. Israel will not allow the terrorist organization Hamas or any other entity in the Gaza Strip to return and threaten our communities and undermine the sense of security of our citizens.".
According to a report on Channel 14, a request was also forwarded to the 'Peace Council.' According to the request from Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz, the kite incident must end within three days.
The officials added that if not, Israel is expected to launch a wave of intense and prolonged airstrikes in the Strip.
Earlier today, Netanyahu released a video in which he addressed the drone threat and the fear that it would also enter the arena in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu said: "Do you have a drone at home? It can be deadly. If it comes in swarms, it is armed, it is very accurate, it is difficult to see it.".
He emphasized: "We have been working on a solution to the drone problem for several years. We are the most advanced in the world, but this is a global problem. We saw it in Ukraine, we saw it in Lebanon, we saw it in Iran, and now we are trying to renew it and introduce it into Gaza.".
According to Netanyahu, the security establishment will fight with all its might against the new threat in the southern sector. "My instruction to the security establishment and the IDF is to do everything against this deadly tool. To harm it, to harm its operators, to harm from the place where it was launched, to do everything to protect our citizens. In the Gaza envelope and everywhere else.".
