Explosive-laden balloons launched from Gaza started four fires in southern Israel, the country’s Firefighting Services said on Friday.
Three of the fires broke out in Kissufim Forest near the Gaza border, and another raged in Be’eri Forest.
Last week saw fires across Israel’s border communities due to incendiary balloons from the Gaza Strip. Israel retaliated by striking Hamas targets in the enclave and reducing Gaza’s fishing zone. Israel has since dropped the constraint.
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Hamas has recently threatened to resume the launching of incendiary balloons after the militant organization failed to reach an agreement with Israel on the transfer of Qatari funds and goods into Gaza.
Israel later announced it would allow goods into the Strip and Hamas has agreed that Israel and the United States will examine the list of families in Gaza who Hamas decided will receive a monthly stipend from Qatar as a condition for transferring the money.
Israel and the U.S. will ensure that the list of 160,000 families does not include Hamas militants or suspected of terrorism.
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Since the end of the recent round of hostilities in May, Israel and Hamas – through Qatari and international mediation efforts – have been discussing the resumption of the humanitarian aid to Gaza, including grants to needy families.
The Qataris are proposing funding of $10 million to 100,000 families, though the number of families that signed up for the aid is almost 160,000.
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