Hezbollah rocket attack strikes soccer field in Golan Heights near northern Israel, kills 12 Syrian children
In the ruins, mothers frantically searched for their children, yelling out their names with piercing cries. As panic spread, they raced to hospitals, their hearts heavy with dread. They clung to the hope they might find their loved ones alive, even if injured.
- 3 weeks ago
August 24, 2024
Druze elders and mourners surround the coffins of children killed in a rocket strike on July 27, 2024, during a mass funeral in the Druze town of Majdal Shams, Israel. | Photo courtesy of Zaka
MAJDAL SHAMS, Israel ꟷ On Saturday, July 27, 2024, as I shopped in the supermarket, a loud explosion erupted nearby. The ground shook violently. I stepped outside and witnessed a devastating scene. People screamed, cried, and rushed for help. A rocket struck a soccer field where children played in Majdal Shams, a town in the Golan Heights plateau near Northern Israel in Syria.
At the site of the attack, chaos reigned. Blood and body parts scattered across the area. Children screamed in pain, many of them severely injured. Hurriedly, we transported 30 injured children to Ziv Medical Center in Safed. They remain in serious condition in pediatric intensive care units in the north, with numerous children suffering permanent injuries. Currently, 15 of them remain hospitalized, fighting their injuries. Some are expected to undergo additional surgeries throughout the day.
Read more stories on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at Orato World Media.
Hezbollah rocket hits soccer field in Majdal Shams, killing 12 children
In the past 10 months, peace felt elusive. It seemed every other day; I witnessed the funerals of family members who died undeservedly [in the conflict between Hamas and Israel]. Despite the loss of life in Israel, we attempt to return to normalcy, but many Israeli people remain in Gaza as hostages, their conditions unknown. Gradually, we attempt to rebuild our lives, especially for our children.
However, on July 27, 2024, during Shabbat a festive day when Jews exercise their freedom from the regular labors of everyday life, Hezbollah launched a deadly rocket attack on Majdal Shams, a town of the Druze people.
[“The Druze religion has its roots in Islam, but although some members consider themselves “Muslim,” they have been recognized as a separate religion… Druze are unitarian, but they recognize many prophets, including Jesus, John the Baptist, Mohammed, Khidr, and Moses. However, their most respected biblical prophet is Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law.]
The rocket struck the city late Saturday afternoon, causing bloody carnage on the soccer field. Although a warning siren sounded, it came too late for victims to flee and take shelter. In seconds, the city of squat-white houses and fruit trees became a flashpoint of regional conflict. Tragically, the attack killed 12 children playing soccer on the field. Five victims came from the same family, and about 13 children remain in serious condition.
When Zaka [a non-governmental rescue and recovery organization] and the medical teams arrived, the parents of the children grieved uncontrollably. Authorities did not allow them near the site until late that night. Later, the IDF identified the rocket as an Iranian-made Falaq-1 with a warhead of over 50 kilograms of explosives.
Although missile fire now happens daily in the north, Hezbollah’s latest attack represents the deadliest one since their strikes on northern Israel began on October 8, 2024. These attacks have resulted in 24 civilian deaths in Israel and the deaths of 18 IDF soldiers and reservists.
Children identified through DNA tests as mothers recognize clothing in the ruins
When I arrived at the chaotic scene, I found it indescribable, with the remains of children scattered and dismembered. Despite my familiarity with mass casualties, witnessing children in such a state broke my heart. Immediately, the medical teams rushed some injured children to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa and placed them in the pediatric intensive care unit for overnight surgeries. Many suffered multi-system injuries from shrapnel in their heads and bodies.
Amid the heart-wrenching situation, we identified the children, often relying on DNA tests due to the extent of their injuries. On the other hand, mothers picked up pieces of fabric and recognized them as their child’s clothing. Most children lay on the field, some dead and some injured, but one child, 11-year-old Guevara Ibrahim, remains missing. His relatives searched all hospitals and surrounding areas, but he vanished. His parents believe he was on the soccer field during the attack.
Doctors have sedated three children and placed them on ventilators while addressing their serious conditions. In the coming days, doctors and therapists will focus on stabilizing them physically, but the mental scars from this incident will remain profound and lasting.
Losing innocent children who just started their lives cannot be captured in words. The haunting image of the site will stay with those who saw it for the rest of their lives. In one day, we buried 12 children, leaving the community with a deep sense of sadness, disaster, and unbearable pain.
Mother mourns daughter lost in rocket attack: “She was like an angel, what did she do to deserve this?”
In the ruins, mothers frantically searched for their children, yelling out their names with piercing cries. As panic spread, they raced to hospitals, their hearts heavy with dread. They clung to the hope they might find their loved ones alive, even if injured. One mother, in particular, cried for her daughter who died in the attack, lamenting, “She was like an angel, what did she do to deserve such a horrific death?” Another woman rushed to find her three daughters, who loved playing on the football pitch.
The town of Majdal Shams experienced a profound shock as they struggled to grasp the tragedy. Despite their familiarity with the sound of rockets and running for shelter, they never encountered such an unprecedented event.
With funerals the next day, people gathered to show solidarity with the grieving families. Notably, an 85-year-old woman, despite not losing anyone, came to pay her respects. United, the community extended their love and support. Funeral laments echoed throughout Majdal Shams as thousands of mourners filled the narrow streets and squares, carrying small coffins covered in white shrouds to their final resting place.
As Israeli politicians visited Majdal Shams, residents expressed their frustration, blaming the government for its failure to protect them and their children. The people of the north sought a place to grieve and end their suffering, emphasizing that no innocent child should die, whether in the north, the south, or in Gaza.
Family loses three soccer-loving children, finds only jerseys and remains
The attack, rumored to have targeted a military base, left an indelible mark on our town. Mothers wept for their lost children, and mourners at the funerals could not hold back their tears. One family lost three children who loved soccer. They collected one child’s remains in a plastic bag and found only the soccer jerseys of the other children. Identifying their DNA from blood traces, which took over 30 hours, confirmed a direct hit.
A relative found some solace, saying, “Our son died on a soccer pitch.” They added, “His biggest dream was to be a professional soccer player.” Another surviving nine-year-old kid ran for his life with a friend. When he looked back, he saw his friend dead. The trauma he faces is unimaginable as he continues to ask, “Where is he,” while recovering in a hospital with the help of a therapist.
Despite this immense tragedy and the loss of many children, our town slowly finds the strength to cope. The support from people across Israel has deeply moved us, uniting us in this sorrow as our children rest in peace.
