Thousands gathered on Sunday in Majdal Shams for the funerals of 11 of the 12 children killed by a Hezbollah rocket strike on a soccer field in the northern Druze town. Family members collapsed in anguish and required medical attention.
The victims were identified as Fajr Laith Abu Saleh, 16; Ameer Rabeea Abu Saleh, 16; Hazem Akram Abu Saleh, 15; John Wadeea Ibrahim, 13; Iseel Nasha'at Ayoub, 12; Finis Adham Safadi, 11; Yazan Nayeif Abu Saleh, 12; Alma Ayman Fakhr al-Din, 11; Naji Taher al-Halabi, 11; and Milad Muadad al-Sha'ar, 10. Nathem Fakher Saeb from Ein Kinia, was also killed in the attack.
Jafara Ibrahim, 11, from Majdal Shams has been missing since the attack. His family has requested help in finding him. "With great sorrow and sadness, and with calmness and complete submission to God's will, Majdal Shams mourns her best children who were affected in the attack on the village's field," a statement read.
"All night, the children asked why this happened, and how their friends were killed like that," said Salman, a Majdal Shams resident. "We have nothing to say to them. All of us, including the adults, are broken, helpless and in pain. We also ask, don't understand and are so sad and angry. How will we answer our children's questions when we ask the same questions and there is no one to answer us."
Salman noted that many of the local children were exposed to graphic images from the massacre. "They talk about trauma, they couldn't sleep at night," he said. The IDF, Fire and Rescue Services, the Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulance service and Israel Police established a joint coordination center to secure the funeral and the area.
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'All night the children asked why this happened, and how their friends were killed like that'
(Photo: Yair Kraus)
Likud ministers who attended the funeral were met with angry shouts from residents. "We want peace and we don't get it. We are tired of your promises," enraged mourners shouted. Their anger was particularly directed at Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who had recently thwarted a bill to connect the Druze villages to the national energy grid after decades of government neglect.
Earlier, Defense Minister Yoav Galant quoted from the Quran in a post on X, expressing his condolences to "our Druze brothers" and wrote, "We share your deep sadness, your children are our children, your tragedy is our tragedy."