Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a sharp warning to Hamas on Monday against the continued launching of airborne kites and incendiary balloons from the Gaza Strip toward Negev communities, emphasizing that Israel will enforce a strict policy of “zero containment and zero tolerance” against the airborne threat.
According to Katz, he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have instructed the IDF to act forcefully in accordance with this unyielding directive. “If the launches persist, powerful offensive operations will be executed to eliminate this phenomenon entirely,” Katz warned. “A balloon or a kite is treated precisely like an armed drone—whether loaded with explosives or not.” During his remarks, Katz took direct aim at his predecessor in the Defense Ministry, Yoav Gallant, vowing that he will never allow a reversion to the containment and security doctrines that preceded the October 7 massacre. “I am not Yoav Gallant, and I will not allow the pre-October 7 reality to repeat itself—not from the air and not along the border perimeter fence.”
Katz added that, unlike the “repeated raid doctrine” led by Gallant during earlier phases of the war—which allowed Hamas operatives to cycle back into previously cleared areas—Israel and the IDF have now established a fortified security zone maintained under permanent Israeli operational control.