Middle East analyst Yoni Ben Menachem said Monday that Hamas circulated images overnight of children playing with explosive kites, claiming they are 'just children's toys' and accusing Israel of seeking a pretext to escalate in Gaza. Ben Menachem described the claims as a 'big lie' and said they reflect Hamas's fear of Israeli threats to take severe action in the Strip.
On Monday morning, Middle East analyst Yoni Ben Menachem accused Hamas of circulating false images of children with explosive kites, calling the group's claims a 'big lie.' Ben Menachem said Hamas distributed the photos overnight to support its narrative that the kites are harmless 'children's toys' and that Israel is seeking a pretext to escalate ahead of Knesset elections. His remarks come after Hamas's official dismissal of the kites on Sunday evening, marking an analytical counter to the terror group's propaganda effort.
The thread of developments began on Sunday at 19:59 Jerusalem, when The Zioneer reported that Israel had issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Peace Council in Gaza to cease kite attacks, threatening massive airstrikes. Shortly afterward, Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim rejected the ultimatum and accused Israel of 'genocide,' describing kite operators as 'children searching for their lost childhood.' Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem then called on the United States and mediating countries to pressure Israel, repeating the 'children's toys' line. Finally, Hamas issued an official statement dismissing the kites as toys. The Zioneer published a bulletin at 22:33 Jerusalem summarizing the dismissal.
The Zioneer has previously documented Hamas's pattern of propaganda. On July 2, The Zioneer reported on a video showing Gaza children waving PLO flags to counter genocide claims. On July 4, a false claim that Israel paints bombs as soccer balls to lure children was debunked. Additionally, on June 28, The Zioneer reported that top IDF officers warned the chief of staff that Hamas is rearming for war, with the US opposing a resumption of combat. This context underscores Hamas's consistent effort to manipulate imagery and downplay security threats.
The authenticity of the images circulated by Hamas remains unverified. The Israeli security establishment has not publicly confirmed the ultimatum, and it is unclear whether the 72-hour deadline has passed or what Israel's response will be if kite attacks continue.
5 developments
- DevelopingVideo shows Gaza children playing in makeshift pools, waving PLO flags, according to Telegram post
- DevelopingOnline campaign falsely claims Israel paints bombs to look like soccer balls to lure Lebanese children
- StrongGazans destroy kites preemptively, say they fear Israeli strikes — report
- DevelopingVideo shows children at Hamas summer camps in former Gaza settlement areas undergoing military training
Source and signal
- Open-source intake