Israel plane fires warning to deter Gaza balloon, kite attacks

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — An Israeli occupation aircraft fired a warning shot on Saturday to deter a group of Gazans preparing to fly a balloon fitted with “explosives” over the border, in the first such case, Israel said.

"The Israeli [occupation forces] spotted a group of Palestinians preparing balloons equipped with explosive devices to cause fires and serious damage on Israeli territory," it claimed in a statement.

"In response, an Israeli aircraft fired a warning shot near the group," it said, without elaborating.

Israel said it was its first use of aircraft opening fire to deter Palestinian protesters in the Gaza Strip from launching fire kites and balloons over the border into southern Israel.

The kites have become a potent symbol of a wave of Palestinian protests that broke out on March 30 against Israel's crippling decade-long blockade of Gaza and for the right of return of thousands of Palestinian refugees forced from their homes amid violence surrounding the creation of Israel.

At least 129 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli occupation forces’ fire since then, the majority as they approached the border fence where troops have orders to use lethal force to prevent any infiltration attempts.

The kites offer a safer way for Gazans to protest, inflicting economic losses on Israel while remaining far enough from the border to avoid being shot.

Israeli occupation forces have been launching drones to damage or cut down the kites.