Hamas is exerting intensive pressure on the mediating countries, demanding that they accuse Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, Channel 12 News reported. The pressure peaked over the weekend, when Hamas demanded a public statement against Israel.
An assessment by the defense establishment found that the move is driven by two main motives. The first is an attempt to prevent the organization from being disarmed in Gaza, a process that was supposed to begin but remains stalled.
The second is to create advance legitimacy for intensifying attacks against IDF troops operating in Gaza.
Alongside the diplomatic efforts, operational alertness has increased on the ground. The IDF carried out a broad wave of strikes across Gaza over the past week. Meanwhile, the defense establishment is concerned over the resurgence of kites being flown toward communities near the Gaza border.
Four kites were identified in the Gaza border area over the past 24 hours. According to the defense establishment, Hamas is directly behind the launches and is using children and teenagers to test Israeli response patterns and gather information about the area.
For the first time since the wave of incendiary balloons in 2018-2019, residents of the Gaza border communities were issued the following instruction: "If you spot a kite, foreign balloon, or drone, do not approach or touch it." The defense establishment believes the kites could soon be used to carry explosives.
Security officials addressed the threat, saying: "The kites, which are launched using an especially long string, are being used to gather intelligence ahead of a major operation involving tethered drones. We are tracking the kites and continuing our policy of thwarting threats. The message is that we will also reach those behind the launching of these kites."