Israel renews expulsion threat as Gaza strikes kill three

The Israeli Defence Minister escalated rhetoric on Wednesday, threatening mass expulsions from zones where Palestinians have launched kites and balloons carrying incendiary devices across the border. The announcement came as Israeli military strikes claimed three lives in the Gaza Strip, continuing a cycle of escalating tensions in the enclave.

The inflammatory devices have been deployed repeatedly from Gaza in recent months, causing fires in Israeli border communities and prompting strong security responses. Israeli authorities have long sought to suppress the practice, viewing it as a security threat and form of protest.

The defence minister's latest statement represents a significant hardening of Israel's stance, shifting from operational responses to threatened demographic measures. Such expulsion threats have drawn international concern, with human rights organizations warning they could constitute collective punishment under international law.

The renewed hostilities underscore the fragile security situation along the Gaza-Israel border, where periodic flare-ups have resulted in casualties on both sides. Mediation efforts by regional actors have struggled to establish lasting truces in the contested territory.