Bird sent from Gaza wearing harness carrying flammable material

Animals used by Palestinian terrorists to start fires in Israel, with a falcon found handing from a burned tree wearing a harness

First kites and balloons, and now birds are being used to by Palestinians in Gaza to set fires in southern Israel.

Israel Nature and Parks Authority personnel on Monday afternoon found a common kestrel, a member of the falcon family, hanging from a burned tree wearing a harness to which was attached a wire wrapped around flammable material.

The bird was discovered after workers put out a fire that had broken out in Habesor National Park.

It is the first time that an animal has been used to ignite fires, according to a statement from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

The authority said it is considering the possibility of filing a complaint – under the appropriate international treaties – over the use of an animal for terrorism.

The kestrel is a common bird in Israel.

At least eight large fires burned in southern Israel near the border with Gaza on Monday.

Palestinian cruelty to animals: Hamas terrorists sent today a rare falcon & attached to one of its legs an incendiary device in order to torch Israeli fields near the Gaza border.

9000 acres were burnt so far. Many wild animals were also burnt to death by Palestinian terrorists pic.twitter.com/gS20iHZmCJ

— Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) July 16, 2018

Meanwhile, on Monday evening, Israel announced it would again close the Kerem Shalom crossing, the only crossing for commercial goods and the main crossing for humanitarian aid between Israel and Gaza, after a rocket was fired into southern Israel earlier in the day despite a cease fire declared by Hamas late Saturday night.

The closure, which cuts off fuel and gas supplies to the coastal strip, will remain in effect until Sunday, the defence Ministry announced. Food and medicines will continue to be allowed to pass through the crossing to Gaza, but each shipment will require individual approval.

“The vindictive steps by Israel reflect the magnitude of the injustice and the crimes that are committed in the Gaza Strip. There will be severe consequences and Israel will have to take responsibility. It will never succeed in influencing the national position to continue the struggle and resistance until we achieve our rights and lift the siege,” Hamas, the terror organisation that runs the Gaza Strip, said in a statement.

At the same time, Egypt announced that it would temporarily close the Rafah crossing with Gaza due to a technical malfunction.