Tel Aviv, Aug. 23 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hamas that Israel would intensify targeted strikes against those responsible for launching drones, balloons and kites from the Gaza Strip if the launches do not cease immediately, as Hamas accused Israel of using children's kites as a pretext to escalate "attacks" on Gaza.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister of Israel's official handle said that Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz held "a situational assessment this evening regarding the threat of drones, balloons and kites launched from the Gaza Strip toward Israel. The discussion was attended by Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the Head of the National Security Council, and senior IDF officials....