Israel strikes Gaza after kite launches; Hamas commander killed

On August 23, 2026, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the IDF to respond immediately and forcefully to Gaza balloon, kite, and drone launches. In response, Israeli airstrikes killed a Hamas commander and struck a weapons production site near an aid center in central Gaza. The strikes also killed three people, including a child, according to reports. The IDF also conducted a raid in Nablus, where a 14-year-old was killed, though this appears separate from the Gaza-focused escalation.