For the third consecutive day, the rise in temperature in the Palestinian territories helped fire kite and balloon launchers cause more damage in Israeli areas. Fires from kites launched Tuesday evening broke out in several Israeli towns along the border with Gaza Strip, damaging agricultural areas near Sderot and other regions. Photos published by Israeli media showed a balloon fly towards central Sderot, four to five kilometers away from the strip’s northern border. The balloon had flammable material, but did not lead to any fires. The fire kites strategy, which started 83 days ago, represents a security challenge to Israel, whose troops have resorted to opening fire at the launchers. Israel has incurred massive material losses from the attacks, which originally targeted five areas before spreading to more than 16. Tel Aviv has been facing major difficulties in putting out the blaze. The kites have become a potent symbol of a wave of Palestinian protests that broke out on March 30 against Israels crippling decade-long blockade of Gaza. At least 129 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since then, the majority as they approached the border fence where troops have orders to use lethal force to prevent any infiltration attempts. The kites offer a safer way for Gazans to protest, inflicting economic losses on Israel while remaining far enough from the border to avoid being shot. The Israeli army has been launching drones to damage or cut down the kites, According to Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, of the more than 600 kites launched from Gaza so far, around 400 kites have been intercepted.