UN rejects Israel's plan to evict Gaza residents over kite flying

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned Israel’s recent warning that residents of several Gaza communities could be forcibly evacuated if they continue to fly kites, a practice the Israeli military says could be used to smuggle weapons or surveillance equipment. spokesperson Michael Fakhri described the threat as “disproportionate and punitive,” emphasizing that the measure violates international humanitarian law and the rights of civilians to engage in peaceful cultural activities.

Israel’s military authorities have argued that kite flying in the densely populated coastal enclave poses a security risk, citing intelligence that suggests some kites have been equipped with small cameras or other devices. Human‑rights officials, however, noted that no concrete evidence has been presented linking the specific communities under threat to illicit activities, and they urged Israeli officials to pursue targeted investigations rather than broad displacement. The UN office called on all parties to respect the protections afforded to civilians under the Geneva Conventions and to refrain from measures that could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.