The suffering Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are not only using fire kites and balloons as weapons to create fires in Israel. They now also fly condoms carrying explosives.
The contraceptive device carrying the explosives was inflated with helium gas so that it could be flown deep into Israeli territory. This method is the same as the use of fire kites and balloons used by Palestinians during the last three months.
The three flying weapons are routinely flown from Gaza to southern Israel. In addition to burning agricultural land and nature reserves in Israel, the weapons have confused the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and local politicians.
So far, the IDF has responded by firing warning shots using drones against Palestinian groups preparing for incendiary devices. Although no casualties, these three simple Palestinian weapons forced the Israeli public to pressure the government and the IDF to act.
Israel is now beginning to limit the entry of helium to the Gaza-controlled coastal enclave of Hamas. Helium has been used for medical purposes in Gaza as for the MRI machine.
However, by Palestinians, the gas is used to fill balloons and condoms to improve mileage.
"The entry of helium gas into the Gaza Strip will be limited given its use by terrorists to fill the burning balloons," said local security coordinator Major General Kamil Abu Rokon following instructions from Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
"Hamas terrorist groups have no hesitation in using any means, including services and humanitarian channels, to engage in terrorist activities, despite Israel's efforts to prevent the deterioration of the civilian situation in the Gaza Strip," he added, 6/2018).
Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett on Monday called on the IDF to shoot directly to Palestinians who launched the incendiary device. According to him, preventing attacks with warning shots is not enough.
"Explosive kites and blazing balloons are not children's toys. It is a deadly weapon meant to kill our children, "he said.
"We have to stop firing near the target and move to shoot straight in that direction," he said again.
Meanwhile, Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit declined to comment on the legality of the shootings on people who launched the burner. Nevertheless, he insisted that kite burners and explosive balloons were legitimate military targets.
Attacks of kites, balloons and condoms with explosive devices and burners by Palestinians in Gaza have been going on since the March March demo "Great March of Return" began on March 30.
About 130 Palestinian protesters have been killed by IDF sniper fire and thousands more injured. The use of deadly force by the Israeli military has sparked international condemnation.