“Terror kites” have started more than 350 fires and burned up 7,000+ acres of agricultural land, groves and nature reserves causing tens of millions of shekels in damage near Israel’s border with Gaza over recent weeks.

Last weekend more than 40 fires raged through the use of incendiary kites carrying explosives and burning fuel.

Firefighting crews battled blazes along the border with Gaza throughout the weekend, including massive fires in the Shokeda and Simchoni forests. The Israeli Nature and Parks Authority said fire destroyed a third – 75 acres of the 275-acre – Karmiya nature reserve. It took most of the day to bring the massive blaze under control, even with the help of firefighting aircraft.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered funds to be withheld from taxes transferred to the Palestinian Authority. Those funds will be used to compensate farmers and communities that have suffered losses from the fires.

Netanyahu instructed National Security Council head Meir Ben Shabbat to come up with the figures to reimburse those who’ve been directly hurt by the fires.

In response, the Jewish National Fund (JNF) announced Tuesday that it will sue Hamas in international legal court for the massive environmental damages inflicted on JNF land surrounding the Gaza border.

JNF World Chairman, Daniel Atar, recently visited the area, commenting, “It is inconceivable that the international community would allow Hamas not to be held accountable and pay for its criminal acts; not only against the citizens of the state of Israel, but also against nature and the environment which have been severely hurt by this criminal environmental terrorism. Hamas has proved that they have no humanity; not just toward human beings, but also toward animals and natural resources,” reported the Jerusalem Post.

Source: CBN / World Israel News

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