Pro-Hamas activists launch incendiary balloons into Israel
Incendiary balloons launched from the Gaza Strip on
Sunday caused at least three blazes in southern Israel, Israeli media reported,
raising the possibility of renewed Israeli strikes on the Hamas-run territory.
Photos and video posted on social media showed
Hamas-linked activists launching the balloons. On one of them was written the
message: “Time is running out.”
The launches came two months after an 11-day war between
Israel and Hamas. The Islamic militant group is upset that Israel has done
little to ease a crippling blockade on the territory since the fighting ended,
and over delays in indirect negotiations with Israel to resume Qatari financial
aid to Gaza.
Israeli media reported at least three fires set in southern
Israel, breaking a three-week lull in the launches of the incendiary balloons.
In an initial response, COGAT, the Israeli defense body
that oversees Palestinian civilian affairs, announced that Israel was cutting
the fishing zone for Gazan fishermen in half, from 12 nautical miles to six
nautical miles. Reducing the fishing area is a common Israeli response to fire
emanating from Gaza.
Israel's new prime minister, Naftali Bennett, has
compared the balloon launches to rocket fire and has ordered airstrikes
following previous launches.
