Gaza kites

Hamas's leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, center, chants slogans with protesters during his visit to the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, April 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Analysis

Economic collapse or war: Hamas’s cynical, desperate bid to pressure Israel, PA

The terror group is holding its subjects in Gaza hostage in a dangerous gambit to improve their lot while retaining its military strength

A masked Palestinian prepares a balloon that will be attached to flammable materials to be launched into Israel near the Israeli Gaza border, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on June 17, 2018. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)

Condoms, kites, birthday balloons: ‘Silly’ Gaza weapons could lead to real war

By Judah Ari Gross

File: Gazans load balloons with flammable material to be flown toward Israel, at the Israel-Gaza border in al-Bureij, central Gaza Strip on June 14, 2018. (AFP/Mahmud Hams)

June 23, 2018, 2:33 pm

Israeli aircraft said to fire near Gazans flying burning kites

No injuries reported as a result of warning shots, which come as incendiary devices launched from Strip spark three blazes in Israel

By TOI staff

Tear gas is fired at Palestinians taking part in clashes and burning tires along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Gaza City, on June 22, 2018. (AFP Photo/Mahmud Hams)

June 22, 2018, 8:05 pm

206 Gazans said injured in weekly border clashes

Two grenades thrown at troops along security fence; incendiary devices flown into Israel from Strip spark 10 fires

By TOI staff

June 22, 2018, 1:57 pm

Economic collapse or war: Hamas’s cynical, desperate bid to pressure Israel, PA

The terror group is holding its subjects in Gaza hostage in a dangerous gambit to improve their lot while retaining its military strength

By Avi Issacharoff

Palestinian youths play with rollerblades by walls covered with graffiti at the sea port in Gaza City on June 19, 2018. (AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD HAMS)

June 21, 2018, 5:35 pm

Hamas prepared to make ‘comprehensive deal’ with Israel – report

Terror group said to be negotiating with Cairo over truce that will include returning captives in exchange for port, airport

By TOI staff

Palestinian protesters prepare kites loaded with flammable material to be flown towards Israel, at the Israel-Gaza border in al-Bureij, central Gaza Strip on June 14, 2018. (AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD HAMS)

June 21, 2018, 4:54 pm

IDF fires shots near Gazans launching ‘fire kites’

Army says it targeted the structure from which the Palestinians were flying incendiary devices into southern Israel

By Judah Ari Gross

The incendiary device found in a community in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council on June 21, 2018. (Israel Police)

June 21, 2018, 1:19 pm

Sappers defuse incendiary device flown into Israel by inflated condoms

Disposal unit called to Sha'ar Hanegev community as Palestinians in Gaza continue to launch airborne arson attacks using balloons, kites

By TOI staff

A worker walks by an Iron Dome missile defense battery near the city of Sderot in southern Israel on May 29, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 20, 2018, 11:58 pm

IDF deploys additional Iron Dome batteries near Gaza amid heightened tensions

Local government calls for residents to keep bomb shelters ready in case of renewed rocket, mortar fire, after terror groups in Strip launch 45 projectiles

By Judah Ari Gross

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C), Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman (L) and IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot at a graduation ceremony for new IDF officers on June 20, 2018. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry

June 20, 2018, 10:25 pm

Amid fears of new Gaza war, PM threatens to step up response to arson attacks

After Gaza rocket fire, army chief says Israel will 'strike those who wish us harm,' vows to 'bring back security' to south

By TOI staff

Three missiles from Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system are seen from Gaza City on June 20, 2018. (AFP Photo/Mahmud Hams)

June 20, 2018, 8:20 pm

Hamas, Islamic Jihad claim responsibility for Gaza rocket barrage

Terror groups vow to answer with an 'attack for an attack,' as Netanyahu warns Israeli response will 'intensify as needed'

By TOI staff

Illustrative. Palestinians fly a kite as they gather at the border fence with Israel, east of Jabalia in the central Gaza city, during a protest on April 13, 2018. (AFP/Mohammed Abed)

June 20, 2018, 7:50 pm

IDF again shoots near, not at, Gazans preparing to fly ‘fire kites’ into Israel

For second time Wednesday, Israeli military fires warning shot at cell trying to launch airborne arson devices from the coastal enclave

By Judah Ari Gross

An explosion is seen in Gaza City after an airstrike by Israeli forces on June 18, 2018. (AFP/Mahmud Hams)

June 20, 2018, 7:49 pm

Senior minister warns latest flare-up could lead to new Gaza war

In the case of an all-out confrontation, Hamas will suffer a blow that will end its rule over the coastal enclave, says Yuval Steinitz

By Michael Bachner and Judah Ari Gross

A cluster of balloons with a small explosive device attached to them, which landed and got stuck on a trampoline in a backyard in the Eshkol region of southern Israel on June 20, 2018. (Eshkol Security)

June 20, 2018, 7:45 pm

Booby-trapped Gaza balloons land on trampoline; mom tells kids: They’re not toys

Mother of home where explosive device lands says her daughter, 7, now knows 'balloons that we don't recognize are suspicious'

By Judah Ari Gross

Palestinian protesters hold balloons before loading them with flammable material to be flown towards Israel, at the Israel-Gaza border in the central Gaza Strip on June 14, 2018. (AFP/Mahmud Hams)

June 20, 2018, 6:47 pm

Startup Nation unites to seek solution to Palestinian terror balloons

Mini-hackathon on Friday organized by tech incubator SouthUp calls for ideas to help counter flying incendiary devices launched from Gaza into Israel

By Shoshanna Solomon

June 20, 2018, 5:07 pm

Condoms, kites, birthday balloons: ‘Silly’ Gaza weapons could lead to real war

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are relentlessly flying a variety of airborne arson and explosive devices into Israel, causing hundreds of fires, millions of shekels in damage

By Judah Ari Gross

A Palestinian prepares a balloon that will be attached to flammable materials and then flown toward Israel near the Israeli-Gazan border, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip June 17, 2018. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)

June 20, 2018, 1:42 pm

IDF fires warning shots at Gaza incendiary balloon cell

Incident comes hours after dozens of rockets and mortar shells hit southern Israeli communities overnight

By TOI staff and Judah Ari Gross