IDF fingers Hamas for near constant incendiary balloon launching

The Israeli army accuses the Hamas terror group of directing the ongoing, nearly constant airborne arson attacks from the Gaza Strip, identifying key figures suspected of being responsible for the project and sharing a video showing incendiary balloons being prepared in a Hamas position.

“Hamas is leading this phenomenon of explosive and incendiary kites, it is behind the launching of them and it will bear the responsibility of this terrorist activity,” the army says.

In a statement, the military says the kites and balloons carrying incendiary devices and explosives were initially launched into Israel as part of a grassroots form of terror, but has since been adopted by Hamas.

“After the phenomenon began as a form of popular terrorism, in recent weeks it has been noticed that Hamas is leading this process as an organized action in which incendiary and explosive kites and balloons are launched from the border of the Gaza Strip toward Israeli territory,” the Israel Defense Forces says.

The army says the efforts to launch these incendiary and explosive devices are being directed by Hamas regional commanders. Some of the materials used to make the kites and balloons are also coming from Hamas positions, according to the IDF.

“The preparation of these kites is being done in large numbers and in an organized way by terror operations of the Hamas terror group,” the army says.

— Judah Ari Gross