Israeli warplanes attack kite flyers in eastern Gaza

By Nour Abu Aisha and Hani al-Shaer

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – Israeli warplanes on Tuesday fired missiles toward a group of Palestinians flying incendiary kites in the eastern Gaza Strip.

One missile struck an area in the eastern Suja’iyya neighborhood, where a group of people were trying to fly burning kites and balloons into Israel, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter.

Two missiles were also fired toward a car carrying a group of kite flyers in Al-Tuffah neighborhood in the eastern Gaza city.
No injuries were reported.

In a statement, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee confirmed the missile attacks against kite flyers in the eastern Gaza Strip.

Palestinian activists have been flying incendiary kites and balloons toward Israeli territory as part of ongoing demonstrations near the Israel-Gaza security fence that began on Mar. 30.

Since the protests began, at least 132 Palestinian demonstrators have been martyred -- and thousands more injured -- by Israeli army gunfire.

Protesters demand the “right of return” to their homes in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.

They also demand an end to Israel’s decade-long blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has gutted the coastal enclave’s economy and deprived its roughly two million inhabitants of basic commodities.