Hamas resumes explosive-laden balloons launched at Israel
Hamas has resumed incendiary balloons flown across the border to pressure Israel to execute the truce understandings after a month of calm since Hamas halted its weekly protests along the Israeli-Gaza border.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Tension on both sides of the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel has returned in the wake of Hamas resuming since Jan. 15 the use of incendiary and explosive-laden balloons toward southern Israel.
The so-called night confusion units of the Palestinian resistance factions also resumed their activities along the eastern border on Jan. 19, in an attempt to pressure Israel to move forward with the truce understandings brokered by Egyptian, Qatari and international mediation in October 2018.
Incendiary and explosive balloons are balloons fitted with flammable materials to cause fires in Israeli agricultural fields near the Gaza Strip. They can also be attached to small explosive charges to make loud explosion sounds that disturb the Israeli army along the border with Gaza. Meanwhile, the night confusion units consist of dozens of youths who detonate huge sound bombs near the Israeli army's posts in the eastern Gaza Strip at night, in order to disturb them.
Hamas accuses Israel of lagging in implementing the truce understandings. Israel has not yet established the industrial zone east of Gaza City, or started to supply the gas line that will feed the only power plant in Gaza. Also, it has yet to allow freedom of movement and the entry of goods through its crossings with the Gaza Strip, or allow funds into the besieged enclave.
