US-led Board of Peace warns Hamas over kite flying following Israeli retaliatory threats

The U.S.-led "Board of Peace" supervising the Gaza ceasefire agreement issued a direct directive on Tuesday, warning Hamas to stop all militant activities, including the flying of kites across the border into Israel.

The statement came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to escalate military operations in the Gaza Strip in response to recent airborne launches.

Why did the Board of Peace issue a warning over kite flying?

An official representing US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace confirmed on condition of anonymity that all combat activities must cease in Gaza, explicitly noting that the prohibition includes kites. The official stated that the message had been conveyed directly to Hamas through established diplomatic channels while adding that Israel must also adhere to the ceasefire by limiting military engagements to genuine and imminent threats.

The warning followed statements from Prime Minister Netanyahu warning that Israel would step up targeted strikes if Hamas permitted the launch of kites, drones, or balloons into southern Israel. Recent Israeli security reports identified several kites landing near border communities traumatized by the October 7, 2023 attacks. While the recovered kites carried no explosive payloads, Israeli authorities reported that at least one bore political messages, recalling past campaigns of incendiary launches.

According to France 24, local community organizations and charities operating in Gaza displacement camps coordinated with local authorities to warn families to keep children from flying kites along the perimeter fence to prevent military escalation.

How did Hamas and the United Nations respond to the warning?

Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim expressed outrage over the Board of Peace directive, characterizing the warning as an absurd attempt to appease Israeli leadership by misconstruing traditional children's activities as hostile operations. Naim asserted that Israel is fabricating pretexts to prolong military actions and stall international peace commitments.

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) also strongly criticized the threat of military retaliation over kite flying. Speaking in Geneva, UN rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani called the Israeli threats and potential displacement over children flying kites "outrageous," emphasizing that innocent recreational acts should never serve as grounds for military escalation.

Coverage from Arab News and Al Jazeera highlights that diplomatic friction over the incident occurs amid ongoing impasses surrounding the Gaza peace roadmap. While the Board of Peace previously called for a phased Israeli withdrawal, recent negotiations led by US envoy Jared Kushner saw the board align with Netanyahu's requirement that complete demilitarization must precede any full troop pullout. Gaza health authorities report that at least 1,288 Palestinians have been killed in sporadic strikes since the ceasefire framework took effect.