Activists Use "Firebomb Kites" to Set Fire to Israeli Fields and Houses: Hundreds of Kites Will Be Flown toward the Enemies - Scenes from Gaza "Return March"

Various sources reported on the activity of the "Sons of Zouari" unit, which uses burning kites to fly over the border and set fire to Israeli fields. In an April 18 report, Al-Jazeera interviewed an activist, who, wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, threatened: "Not dozens but hundreds of kites will be flown toward the enemies, burning their crops, and causing them confusion and panic, Allah willing." The Wattan News Agency, in an April 20 report, interviewed a masked activist, who explained how they prepared the kites, which are "just like the ones kids fly on the beach," but used "for something more important – as a Molotov cocktail." The report included footage showing the activists set fire to the kites and fly them, as people, including children, milled around. Mohamed Zouari was a Tunisian engineer with the Al-Qassam Brigades, who supervised the unmanned aircraft manufacturing program of Hamas, before his assassination in December 2016 in Sfax, Tunisia.

Reporter: "I would like to start my tour here by talking to a group that has recently risen to fame – the 'Sons of Zouari.' These young Palestinians have shown their creativity lately on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, especially in its central zone. These men, who call themselves the 'Sons of Zouari Unit,' have taken upon themselves to burn the fields east of the Al-Bureij refugee camp. Let's talk to them now. Hello."

Activist 1: "Hello."

Reporter: "What is the Sons of Zouari Unit?"

[...]

Activist 1: "We were inspired to create the Sons of Zouari Unit [by Mohammed Zouari], a man whose new ideas and methods of resistance have delineated the most glorious battles of bravery and self-sacrifice. He introduced the new method of resistance: invasion by air. Our idea was inspired by [Zouari] and his innovative notions. By the grace of Allah, we have managed to implement this idea in a simplified way, through popular resistance, the goal of which is to lead to panic and attrition among the enemy."

[…]

Reporter: "What motivated you to burn the fields of the settlers east of Al-Bureij?"

Activist 1: "We, as Palestinians, do not recognize these fields as belonging to the enemy. These are our lands, and the fields planted on them are not theirs by right. These are our lands, and we have the right to them. We say to them: We will not let you sow our lands and enjoy them. We will burn your fields, which you harvest to pay for the bullets that you use to shoot children and peaceful unarmed demonstrators.

[…]

"Allah willing, on Friday, tomorrow, things will be entirely different. Our activity will encompass all areas of the Gaza Strip. Not dozens but hundreds of kites will be flown toward the enemies, burning their crops, and causing them confusion and panic, Allah willing."  

[…]

Wattan News Agency segment shows kites flying and activists assembling "firebomb kites."

Activist 2: "Today is Friday, and we are doing this as we have done for the past 4 Fridays. From the first Friday and to this day, we are here, on our lands. On every Friday, we have been active, and we have had martyrs and wounded. But today, we've developed something that everybody is talking about. Everybody sees and knows what this is. Today, we are using kites, just like the ones kids fly on the beach. But today, we are using them for something more important – as a Molotov cocktail. We attach to the tail of the kite a cup with cotton wool and gasoline. As you can see, we set it on fire and release it. Allah willing, it will light up and burn fields and houses. It will get to a place where it will burn a large area. On Thursday, the guys managed to burn 100 dunams across from central Gaza. All the lands across the border were ablaze. Everybody was talking about this."