Egypt Issues Ultimatum to Hamas, Demands They Stop the Flaming Kites against Israel

News Staff : Jul 17, 2018
JNS.org

The harsh words followed Israel's announcement that it would close the Kerem Shalom crossing to gas and fuel supplies after Hamas launched a rocket into Israel.

(Middle East)—[JNS.org] Egypt issued a warning to Hamas to put a halt to launching of flaming kites and balloons into Israel from Gaza, according to a report in Ynet. (Photo: Israeli firefighters extinguish flames in a wheat field caused from kites flown by Palestinian protesters near the Gaza border on May 30, 2018/Credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90/via JNS.org)

The ultimatum followed Israel's announcement on Monday evening that it would close the Kerem Shalom crossing to gas and fuel supplies after Hamas launched a rocket into Israel earlier in the afternoon.

Also on Monday evening, Egypt announced that it would temporarily close the Rafah crossing in the wake of a technical malfunction.

According to the Ynet report, Hamas told Egypt that it could not entirely eliminate the kites and balloons. However, Hamas allegedly told Egypt that it was working to reduce the number of incendiary balloons.

Multiple fires broke out on Monday along the Israeli border with Gaza; however, the IDF reported that the numbers were less than previously recorded.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org