Israel threats to expel Gazans over kite-flying 'outrageous': UN
The United Nations has criticized Israel for threatening to expel Gazans from areas where incendiary kites and balloons are launched. Israel claims these launches are a security threat orchestrated by Hamas, while Hamas denies responsibility and accuses Israel of using the incidents as a pretext for military strikes.
Why it matters
This highlights the escalating tensions and humanitarian concerns in the Israel-Gaza conflict, specifically regarding the legality and ethics of collective punishment.
The United Nations on Tuesday (August 25, 2026) slammed Israel's threat to expel people from areas where kites, drones and balloons are launched from Gaza, lamenting "unacceptable rhetoric" coming from Israeli leaders.
"On the threat of expulsion due to children's kite flying, I hope we can all agree that this is outrageous," UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva.
Israel warned Hamas on Sunday (August 23, 2026) that it would step up operations in Gaza if launches of kites, drones and balloons towards Israel continued, after a recent increase in such incidents. Hamas has denied responsibility.
Israeli media reported that four kites were found in communities near the Gaza border on Saturday (August 22, 2026) and one was shot down by the army on Sunday (August 23, 2026), bringing the total number recovered in recent days to around 10.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in