Thousands of people gathered on Sunday to mourn the deaths of children and young people killed in a rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The funerals were emotional, with members of the Druze community crying as they carried the caskets through the streets of Majdal Shams. Some people shouted angrily at government officials who attended.
Israel blamed the Iran-backed group Hezbollah for the attack, which killed 12 people, mostly children aged 10 to 16. Hezbollah denied being responsible. In response, the Israeli army attacked Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, and Hezbollah fired back at Israeli military bases.
Global leaders condemned the attack and urged for calm to prevent further escalation, fearing it could lead to a war between Israel and Hezbollah. This situation is particularly tense since the conflict between Israel and Hamas intensified in October.
The rocket struck a football field in Majdal Shams, where the Druze community lives. This community, although having Israeli citizenship, mostly retains loyalty to Syria. The international community largely does not recognize Israel’s control of the Golan Heights.
At the funerals, the Druze community expressed both grief and anger. They criticized Israeli officials for not supporting them earlier and for attending the funerals only after the tragedy.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the attack, with Blinken indicating that the rocket was likely from Hezbollah.
However, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bouhabib suggested it could have been a mistake by either side.
This tragic event underscores the fragile situation in the region, with the risk of escalating violence. The international community is calling for restraint to avoid a larger conflict.
[Source: BBC]
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz5rj16ed4lo