Balloons Embargoed at Gaza Border

Israeli border authorities seized a shipment of balloons in a truck heading for Gaza at the Kerem Shalom border crossing on Thursday.

The normally harmless objects aroused the suspicion of officials at the crossing since thousands of balloons attached to incendiary devices have been launched across the border, causing fires that have ravaged agricultural fields, forests and national park areas in Israel.

The officials classified the balloon cargo as “dual-use,” meaning that they could either be sold for ordinary civilian use or could be used by Hamas terrorists in incendiary attacks.