According to defense officials, they identify many signs that Hamas and its military wing intend to stop the detonation of kites and balloons, Ynet reported.

According to the sources on Wednesday, 6 Menachem Av, Hamas denied the statements, but following pressure from the Egyptian a UN envoy to the Middle East, it was made clear to Hamas that if the phenomenon did not stop, Israel would go to war in Gaza.

“The next 48 hours will be critical to stopping the phenomenon, and then we will know where it is going,” officials state, but it was made clear that “the decisions on going to war will be accepted on its own merits. Security policy cannot provide a response to media or political pressure. And wisely, the direction is that the event will be closed in a positive way within 48 hours.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu, who visited Sderot this week for the first time since the beginning of the phenomenon, said on Sunday in the cabinet that he ordered the IDF to respond to every kite and balloon sent from Gaza.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)