Incendiary kite
{{Short description|Improvised weapon}}
{{About|the use of kites to deliver incendiary devices or bombs|the use of balloons in the same role|Incendiary balloon}}
File:Burning-Kite used by Gaza Palestinins to fire Israeli fields.jpg.]]
An Incendiary kite[https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5249207,00.html Incendiary kite from Gaza causes massive fire in Be'eri Forest], YNET, 2 May 2018(also Firebomb kite,[https://www.timesofisrael.com/army-warns-gazans-against-flying-firebomb-kites-into-israel/ Army warns Gazans against flying firebomb kites into Israel], Times of Israel, 4 May 2018 flaming kite,[https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/04/world/middleeast/gaza-israel-flaming-kites-protest.html Flaming Kites From Gaza Thwarted by Winds], New York Times, 4 May 2018 Fire Kite{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-fire-kites-destroy-much-of-nature-reserve-along-gaza-border/|title=In worst blaze to date, Gaza fire kites destroy vast parts of nature reserve|website=The Times of Israel }}) is a kite with a bomb, incendiary device, or Molotov cocktail attached.
Historical use
Kites were first used in warfare by the Chinese.[https://books.google.com/books?id=jFMQBAAAQBAJ&dq=kite+gunpowder&pg=PP7 Military Aircraft, Origins to 1918: An Illustrated History of Their Impact], Justin D. Murphy, page 2[https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.MAGAZINE-the-strange-and-violent-history-of-kites-1.6221346 The Strange and Violent History of Kites], Haaretz, Noa Manheim, 28 June 2018 During the Song dynasty the Fire Crow, a kite carrying incendiary powder, a fuse and a burning stick of incense, was developed as a weapon.[https://books.google.com/books?id=lvLUAAAAMAAJ&q=incendiary+kite China Reconstructs, Volume 33], 1984 Walter de Milemete's 1326 De nobilitatibus, sapientiis, et prudentiis regum treatise depicts a group of knights flying a kite laden with a black-powder-filled firebomb over the wall of a city.[https://books.google.com/books?id=YRqV_PayIKIC&q=kite&pg=PA10 Taking Flight: Inventing the Aerial Age, from Antiquity Through the First World War], Richard Hallion, pages 9-10 According to Samguk Sagi, in 647 Kim Yu-sin, a Korean general of Silla, rallied his troops to defeat rebels by using flaming kites which also scared the enemy.[https://books.google.com/books?id=XJGZAAAAIAAJ&q=%22Kim+Yu-sin%22+kite History of Science in Korea], Sang-un Chŏn, page 181 In the 17th century, the forces of Thai king Phetracha tied gunpowder barrels to kites used for airborne assault.
Gaza Strip use
File:Demege caused by palestinian fire-kites 2.jpg]]
{{main|Palestinian airborne arson attacks}}
{{see also|agro-terrorism}}
During the 2018 Gaza border protests Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have flown fire bomb kites over the Israel–Gaza barrier, setting fires on the Israeli side of the border,[https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/gazans-fly-firebomb-laden-kites-into-israel-setting-several-blazes-1.6007090 Gazans Fly Firebombs Tied to Kites Into Israel, Sparking Several Blazes], Haaretz, 16 April 2018[https://www.jns.org/gazans-use-kites-to-set-fire-to-fields-forests-in-israel/ Gazans use kites to set fire to fields, forests in Israel], JNS, 17 April 2018[https://www.timesofisrael.com/flaming-kite-from-gaza-sets-israeli-warehouse-ablaze/ Flaming kite from Gaza sets Israeli warehouse ablaze], Times of Israel, 21 April 2018[https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5240207,00.html Continuing kite threat puts Israeli farmers on edge], YNET, 24 April 2018 Since the beginning of May 2018,[https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5254868,00.html Kite terror continues to strike Gaza border communities], 8 May 2018, YNET longer range helium filled incendiary balloons, devised from party balloons and condoms, have been used alongside the kites.[https://www.timesofisrael.com/beyond-kites-fire-balloons-increasingly-used-to-set-southern-israel-ablaze/ Beyond kites: ‘Fire balloons’ increasingly used to set southern Israel ablaze], Times of Israel, 4 June 2018[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians/israel-announces-gaza-trade-fishing-crackdown-in-anti-hamas-move-idUSKBN1JZ1G2?il=0 Israel announces Gaza sanctions in response to cross-border blazes], Reuters, 9 July 2018[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-44544169 Gaza rocket barrage triggers Israeli air strikes], BBC, 20 June 2018 In one instance, a falcon outfitted with a harness with flaming material at the end was utilized as well.[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-17/gaza-s-latest-weapon-arson-bird-found-near-border-with-israel Gaza’s Latest Weapon? Arson Bird Found Near Border With Israel], Bloomberg, Alisa Odenheimer, 17 July 2018
As of 10 July 2018, incendiary kites and balloons have started 678 fires in Israel, destroying {{convert|2,260|acre|ha}} of woodland and {{convert|1,500|acre|ha}} of agricultural fields as well as causing additional damage to open fields.[https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5307517,00.html Kite, balloon terrorism continues scorching Israel's land], YNET, Matan Tzuri, 10 July 2018