Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the Israel Defense Forces to adopt a "zero-tolerance" policy toward kites and balloons launched from Gaza into communities in the Negev.

"If the launches continue—powerful actions will be taken to put an end to the phenomenon," Katz said. "A balloon and kite shall be treated the same as a drone—with or without explosives."

He said Israel would not allow its security zone inside the Gaza border to be bypassed.

Netanyahu and Katz warned Hamas on Sunday night that if kites launched from Gaza did not stop immediately, the IDF would increase targeted strikes against those responsible and evacuate residents from areas used as launch sites.

The IDF found four kites over the weekend that crossed into Israeli territory. "No suspicious items were found on the kites," the military said. Terrorist groups in Gaza have in the past used kites to fly incendiary devices and explosives into Israel.

The warning followed a situational assessment by Netanyahu and Katz, attended by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other top officials, on the threat posed by drones, incendiary balloons and kites launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel.

Netanyahu stressed that Israel would not return to the situation that existed before Oct. 7, 2023.

Israel will not allow Hamas or any other entity in the Gaza Strip to threaten Israeli communities again, he said.