Defense Minister Israel Katz held a special security assessment Thursday with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the head of the Operations Directorate, the Home Front Command chief, and other senior officials. After the meeting, Katz made clear that Israel’s ultimatum following recent balloon and kite launches from Gaza toward communities in the Negev has expired. The Defense Ministry emphasized that Israel will now treat any such launch attempt as an act of terrorism.
Under the new directives, every balloon or kite launch will be met with a forceful response targeting the organizers, operatives, and those responsible on the ground. Operations will also directly target launch sites and infrastructure used by terror elements in the Strip. In line with instructions from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the defense minister, Israeli forces will use all necessary tools to deal with terror hubs and remove the threat from southern communities.
As part of the operational freedom granted to forces, the option to use severe measures was defined—including evacuating populations from areas or neighborhoods in Gaza from which launches are carried out. Security officials made clear they will not allow Hamas or any other element in the Strip to return to old habits and the threat environment that existed before October 7, and that any group attempting to revive balloon and kite terrorism will pay a heavy price.