Fires rage on as Gaza balloon terror intensifies
20 blazes break out in Israeli communities bordering the enclave; senior Hamas official warns Israel not to take steps that would risk the understandings reached between the two sides after last month's cross-border round of violence
In response, Israel reduced the Strip's electricity supply and limited its fishing perimeter.
A Gazan unit responsible for launching incendiary devices said in a statment it renewed its activities Tuesday as a result of 'Israeli violations of its arrangement with Hamas', referring to the earlier reducing of the Gaza electricity supply and the limiting the Strip's fishing perimeter, both on account of firebomb launches.
Senior Hamas official, Khalil al-Hayya, warned Israel not to take steps that would risk the understandings reached between the two sides after last month's cross-border round of violence.
"Changes to the allowed fishing zone and the halt of fuel supply to the power station, put the understandings under risk and will have dire consequences," he said.
The highest number of conflagrations was reported in the Sdot Negev Regional Council with at least six fires being recorded in the area. In addition, at least five fires broke out in the The Eshkol Regional Council and three blazes had been reported in the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council.
In the meantime, in the afternoon hours a balloon with an explosive device attached to it landed in a kindergarten in Kibbutz Sa'ad. The device did not explode and no children were present at the time of the incident.
Tamir Idan, the head of the Sdot Negev Regional Council where the kibbutz is located, called on the government "to act before a disaster happens.”
"An incendiary balloon landing in a kindergarten is just like a rocket landing in a kindergarten,” Idan said. “Every day there are fires in the region and there is no appropriate response from Israel.
"Our community is strong and brave and would be able to withstand a military operation in Gaza, but we won’t be able to take anymore incendiary balloons as if it’s part and parcel of our daily life,” he said.
The Fire and Rescue Authority said despite the damage, most of the fires were under control within minutes.
