Palestinian airborne arson attacks

Arson attacks on Israel from Gaza Strip using kites and balloons

Palestinian militants preparing incendiary balloons for deployment towards southern Israel Helium party balloons bearing flammable materials launched from Bureij, Gaza Strip Burned fields by arson kites near Kibbutz Be'eri

The first wave of Palestinian airborne arson attacks on Israel from Gaza Strip using airborne incendiary devices (incendiary balloons, incendiary kites, etc.) was launched in May 2018 during the 2018 Gaza border protests. These attacks are taking an advantage of the prevailing westwards winds which propel the airborne devices to Israel.[1][2] The fires that ensued annihilated distinctive habitats, ecosystems, and agricultural fields.[3][4]

## History

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Since the beginning of the border riots, Palestinians have increasingly utilized incendiary kites, a primitive and inexpensive weapon that has managed to evade detection by IDF surveillance.[5][6][7][8] In some instances, Palestinians successfully downed IDF surveillance drones with slingshots as the drones attempted to intercept the incendiary kites. By early May 2018, hundreds of these kites had been launched into Israel, resulting in devastating consequences. Hundreds of acres of JNF forests were set ablaze, causing immediate damage estimated at half a million shekels. The long-lasting consequences are significant, as it will take several years to restore the vegetation and soil that were incinerated. [9] On May 2, a massive fire broke out in the Be'eri Forest, destroying several hundred dunams of forest land.[10]

Since May 7, 2018, there has been an increasing use of a simpler method: incendiary balloons carrying pre-lit Molotov cocktails, launched from the Gaza Strip in addition to the kites. These balloons have a longer range compared to the kites. When the Molotov cocktail ignites, the balloons explode in midair, with burning material falling down, causing fires in seven different locations. These incidents include a fire in a wheat field near Mefalsim and another in the Be'eri Forest.[1] While occasional launches of these balloons were reported since early April, their use has escalated significantly since May.[11]

On May 11, the IDF deployed new, small remote-controlled drones equipped with knives on their wings to combat incendiary kites by cutting their guide lines. Reportedly, these drones downed more than 40 kites in the first two days.[12] However, this method ultimately proved ineffective.[11]

By July 2018, incendiary kites and balloons had caused 678 fires in Israel, burning 910 hectares (2,260 acres) of woodland and 610 hectares (1,500 acres) of agricultural land.[13] Some balloons landed in residential areas of the Eshkol Regional Council[14] and the Sdot Negev Regional Council, though no injuries were reported.[15] A cluster of balloons reached Beersheba, located some 40 kilometers (25 mi) from the Gaza Strip.[16][17]

In response to the escalating incendiary attacks, Israel took action. On July 9, 2018, Israel closed the Kerem Shalom border crossing,[18] and on July 16, the transfer of gas and fuel via the crossing was stopped.[19]

Continued airborne arson attacks were reported in 2019,[20][21][22] 2020[23][24] (in August 2020 fuel shipments to Gaza Strip were suspended again, in response of the resumed arson attacks. This caused the shut down of the only Gaza Strip power plant.[25]), and 2021.[26] In July 2021 Israel has reduced the fishing zone off Gaza by half, from 12 nautical miles to 6, in response to incendiary balloons launched into the Eshkol Regional Council area.[27]

To combat the new form of terrorism, the only reliable method was constant monitoring and putting out the fires by hand.[11] In February 2020, the Light Blade (Lahav or), a new laser weapon system was deployed as an operational experiment to the Gaza border against kites and balloons.[28]

## Motivation

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A member of the Sons of Zouari group, responsible for many arson attacks, said in an interview:

> "We, as Palestinians, do not recognize these fields as belonging to the enemy. These are our lands, and the fields planted on them are not theirs by right. These are our lands, and we have the right to them. We say to them: We will not let you sow our lands and enjoy them. We will burn your fields, which you harvest to pay for the bullets that you use to shoot children and peaceful unarmed demonstrators."[29]

## Environmental damage

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The resulting fires caused harm to wildlife, unique habitats, and ecosystems.[30] While agricultural fields are likely to recover relatively quickly, the same cannot be said for wildlife in protected areas. In 2018, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority reported that approximately 10 square kilometers of conservation areas were affected. Although much of the flora is expected to return within a year, the complete recovery of the ecosystem will take considerably longer. Reportedly, both larger animals such as foxes, porcupines, and jackals, as well as smaller creatures like rodents, snakes, and insects, have been killed in significant numbers. Since the reserves adjacent to Gaza are relatively small, the impact of the fires on these areas is disproportionately large.[31][32] Concerns have been raised about the declining diversity of flora following the fires and the encroachment of invasive species into the recovering areas.[33]

Among the protected areas affected were the Be'eri Badlands Nature Reserve, Karmia Sands Nature Reserve, and Besor Stream Nature Reserve.[31][33]

Another significant concern is air pollution resulting from the massive fires.[31] In addition to the smoke produced by the arsons, the burning of tires during the protests has led to the release of toxic chemicals into the air. Furthermore, burning forests contribute to increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, thereby exacerbating the greenhouse effect.[32]

## See also

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* Palestinian stone-throwing
* Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel
* Gaza envelope
* Environmental terrorism

## References

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1. ^ a b Incendiary balloons from Gaza cause damage to Israeli fields Archived 7 May 2018 at the Wayback Machine, YNET, 7 May 2018.
2. ^ "Arson Terrorism: A new method devised by Hamas during the “return marches” to attack the communities near the Gaza Strip and disrupt their daily lives", Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
3. ^ "Beeri forest burns after Hamas incendiary balloon attack". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2019-03-11. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
4. ^ "Balloons from Gaza trigger fires in border areas". english.palinfo.com. 2018-05-08. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
5. ^ Gazans Fly Firebombs Tied to Kites Into Israel, Sparking Several Blazes, Haaretz, 16 April 2018
6. ^ Gazans use kites to set fire to fields, forests in Israel, JNS, 17 April 2018
7. ^ Flaming kite from Gaza sets Israeli warehouse ablaze, Times of Israel, 21 April 2018
8. ^ Continuing kite threat puts Israeli farmers on edge, YNET, 24 April 2018
9. ^ "Gaza border rioters take down 2 IDF drones on sixth week of protest". Ynetnews. May 4, 2018 - via www.ynetnews.com.
10. ^ Tzuri, Matan (May 2, 2018). "Incendiary kite from Gaza causes massive fire in Be'eri Forest". Ynetnews - via www.ynetnews.com.
11. ^ a b c Beyond kites: ‘Fire balloons’ increasingly used to set southern Israel ablaze, Times of Israel, 4 June 2018
12. ^ As Gaza protests continue, IDF employs new tactics to combat riots Archived 13 May 2018 at the Wayback Machine, The Jerusalem Post, 12 May 2018.
13. ^ Tzuri, Matan (10 July 2018). "Kite, balloon terrorism continues scorching Israel's land". Ynet. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
14. ^ "'Suspicious' Gaza balloon lands on grounds of empty school". The Times of Israel. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
15. ^ "Flaming balloon from Gaza lands in preschool near children at play". The Times of Israel. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
16. ^ Police investigate if ‘suspicious balloon’ in Beersheba came from Gaza, Times of Israel 31 January 2018
17. ^ In first, incendiary balloon lands in Be'er Sheva, YNET, Ilana Curiel and Matan Tzuri, 30 July 2018
18. ^ בתגובה להתמשכות טרור ההצתות: מעבר כרם שלום נסגר ("In response to the continuing terror of the arson: the Kerem Shalom crossing was closed")
19. ^ בתגובה להצתות: ישראל סוגרת את כרם שלום גם למעבר גז ודלק ("In response to arson: Israel also closes Kerem Shalom for gas and fuel"), Walla!, July 16, 2018
20. ^ Tsuri, Matan; Zituna, Yoav (27 June 2019). "Dozens of fires are daily nightmare for frustrated Israelis along Gaza border". Ynetnews. Retrieved 16 November 2020. "More than 100 fires were reported in June 2019 alone, with reported damage to at least 4,500 acres of farmland."
21. ^ Gross, Judah Ari. "Beyond kites: 'Fire balloons' increasingly used to set southern Israel ablaze". Times of Israel. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
22. ^ Gross, Judah Ari. "Gaza incendiary balloons spark dozens of fires in southern Israel". Times of Israel. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
23. ^ "Hamas' Wave of Environmental Terrorism", September 9, 2020, IDF
24. ^ "i24NEWS". www.i24news.tv.
25. ^ "Gaza’s lone power plant shuts down amid tensions with Israel", Al Jazeera, August 18, 2020
26. ^ "Incendiary balloons from Gaza spark fires in south ahead of Jerusalem flag march". The times of Israel. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
27. ^ "Israel halves Gaza fishing zone over incendiary balloon fires", Al Jazeera, July 25, 2021.
28. ^ Julian, Hana Levi (11 August 2020). "Israel Deploys 'Light Saber' Anti-Balloon Laser to Shoot Down Threats from Gaza".
29. ^ "Activists Use "Firebomb Kites" to Set Fire to Israeli Fields and Houses: Hundreds of Kites Will Be Flown toward the Enemies - Scenes from Gaza "Return March" (transcript)". MEMRI. Retrieved 2018-10-15. (Activists Use "Firebomb Kites" to Set Fire to Israeli Fields and Houses: Hundreds of Kites Will Be Flown toward the Enemies - Scenes from Gaza "Return March", video clip)
30. ^ Burning kites from Gaza damage Israeli farms, wildlife, Associated Press, June 20, 2018
31. ^ a b c Doug Weir, "Israeli protected areas seem doomed to be the latest environmental victim of the ongoing conflict", Conflict and Environment Observatory, July 11, 2018
32. ^ a b "Ecological terrorism at the Gaza border creates shadows on Israel's landscape". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 17 July 2018.
33. ^ a b "Swathes of Land in Israel’s South Sustained Extensive Damage Due to Gaza Rocket Fire, Arson Balloons – Haarertz", July 6, 2021a repost from the paywalled Jun 22, 2021 article by Ha'aretz

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Palestinian airborne arson attacks.

* "Falcon sent from Gaza used for fire terrorism", ynet, July 18, 2018