Fourth incident: Kite with Arabic writing found in the Gaza Envelope
A kite, believed to have originated from the Gaza Strip, was discovered in the Simhoni Forest in the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council. Security forces and the IDF inspected the site, finding no explosives. The council stated: "We view any incident of this type with severity."
A kite with Arabic writing was discovered on Tuesday in the Simhoni Forest in the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council. An initial check indicates that the kite arrived from the direction of the Gaza Strip. No explosives were found attached to it.
Upon receiving the report, security forces from Kfar Aza and Nahal Oz, as well as IDF units, were dispatched to the scene. The Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council updated residents following the incident and stated:
"We view any incident of this type in our area with severity and are in contact with security officials to complete the investigation."
This is the fourth kite discovered in the territory of the Gaza Envelope communities in recent months. Just two weeks ago, another kite was found in the forest near Moshav Shuva in the Sdot Negev Regional Council. Two additional kites were discovered a few months ago in the Eshkol Regional Council. In all four cases, no explosives were found attached to the kites.
The 'Atid LaOtef' movement responded to the discovery:
"The residents of the Envelope know well how events that initially seem isolated can turn into a dangerous routine. If it turns out that the kite indeed arrived from the Gaza Strip, we expect a clear security response and an in-depth investigation. It is forbidden to return to a reality of containment. Removing the threat from the Gaza Strip and the security of the Envelope residents must stand above all else."
The head of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council, Ori Epstein, stated:
"The days when they tell the residents of the Envelope 'it's just a kite' are over. After October 7, we are not prepared to normalize any event that crosses the border and we demand answers and actions. The sequence of security incidents and political statements in the recent period, when local leadership is not updated in real-time about the security implications for the communities, is a severe blow to the trust we are trying to rebuild since October 7."
He added: "We expect the IDF to investigate the incident to the end, to act accordingly on the security level, and to work with us in full transparency. Without trust, there is no security."
