A kite bearing Arabic writing was found in Simhoni Forest in the Gaza border area on Tuesday afternoon, according to reports, prompting security personnel to the scene to investigate the incident.
Earlier this month, a kite that entered Israel from the Gaza Strip was found in Moshav Shuva. According to Sdot Negev Regional Council head Tamir Idan, the kite was not carrying an explosive device.
Idan responded sharply to the kite’s entry into the regional council’s territory, describing the incident itself as “crossing a red line.” He warned that similar devices could be used in the future to carry explosives.
“Today, it is a kite without an explosive device. Tomorrow, the same means could carry explosives, and later, the threat could also come by drones or other means,” he said. “We have already learned this lesson at far too heavy a price.”
Idan called on the state to respond forcefully to the incident and said that, as far as the regional council is concerned, there is no room for a policy of containment toward threats originating in the Gaza Strip.
Sdot Negev council head warns against return to past security reality
“We will not accept any reality in which the security of Sdot Negev residents and residents of the Gaza border communities is once again put to the test. We will not accept a trickle of incidents or a gradual return to the security reality we knew in the past,” he said.
In interviews with Walla, residents of Gaza border communities expressed concern over Hamas growing stronger.
“We are concerned about Hamas growing stronger, and we expect the army to act on the matter,” said Ilanit Sweisahf, a resident of Kibbutz Kfar Aza. “Some people still have not returned to Kfar Aza, myself among them, and because of all the recent reports, there is currently concern about returning.”
Gaza border residents voice renewed security concerns
Yael Raz Lahiani, a resident of Nahal Oz who has returned to her home, said that the residents of the south returned to a pre-October 7 reality.
“We have returned to a reality in which things are happening. The residents’ sense of security is declining. On the one hand, there is a reduction in the military presence, and on the other hand, Hamas is growing stronger,” she said.
“It looks as though we are heading in a bad direction. Am I afraid there will be another October 7? Probably not. But could terrorists infiltrate a community in the future? Possibly. Our sense of security has not improved since October 7. I had hoped that after three years, we would feel differently.”
