Thousands attend funerals of 12 youngsters killed in Hezbollah rocket attack
At least 34 casualties with varying degrees of injuries were evacuated to hospitals by Magen David Adom first responders and IDF helicopters.
Thousands of mourners have attended the funerals of 12 young people killed by Hezbollah in the northern Israeli Druze town of Majdal Shams on Saturday evening.
Twelve people, aged between 10 and 20, were murdered and at least 38 wounded when a rocket struck near a football pitch.
Young people at the funerals carried flower wreaths and photos of their friends and relatives as small white coffins were carried through the streets of the Druze town in the Golan Heights.
Ziv Medical Center in Safed said three injured children are in serious condition in the pediatric intensive care unit.
The children, aged 11, 12 and 14, all have abdominal injuries, chest injuries and limb fractures. Thirteen children, the youngest just two years old, are in moderate condition, mainly suffering from shrapnel injuries.
According to the IDF, the rocket strike at 6:18pm in the Golan Heights and was part of three barrages fired from Lebanon.
A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said: “The Hezbollah terrorist organisation is behind the rocket launch at a soccer field in Majdal Shams which caused multiple civilian casualties, including children, earlier this evening. All the fatalities are children, aged 10 to 20. We share in the grief of the families and embrace the Druze community in its difficult time.
“Hezbollah has been lying and denying responsibility for the incident. Our intelligence is clear: Hezbollah is responsible for the murder of innocent children.”
ההלוויה קורעת הלב במג'דל שמס pic.twitter.com/kRXH4o8TIT
— yayafink (יאיא פינק) (@yayafink) July 28, 2024
At least 34 casualties with varying degrees of injuries were evacuated to hospitals by Magen David Adom first responders and IDF helicopters.
“We arrived at the soccer field and saw destruction and items on fire,” MDA medic Idan Avshalom said. “Victims were lying on the grass, and the scenes were difficult. We immediately began triaging the injured.
“During the incident, there were additional [rocket] alerts, and medical treatment for the injured is still ongoing,” he added. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moved up his return flight from the U.S. following the incident, his office announced.
“The prime minister will convene the Security Cabinet immediately upon his return to Israel,” the Prime Minister’s Office stated.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Northern Command head Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, Operations Directorate head Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk, Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, and other General Staff members were conducting a situational assessment.
President Isaac Herzog tweeted: “The terrible and shocking disaster in the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the north of Israel is truly heartbreaking. There are no words that can comfort the families of the young victims who lost their lives through no fault of their own.”
He continued: “Hezbollah, armed and funded by Iran, does not distinguish between child or adult, soldier or civilian, Jew or Muslim, Druze or Christian.”
Hezbollah has attacked Israel nearly every day since joining the conflict in support of Hamas, firing thousands of rockets, missiles, and explosive drones at Israeli towns. Tens of thousands of Israeli civilians remain internally displaced due to the ongoing violence.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock urged that it is important any response is decided with “cool heads.” “It is appalling that children and young people who simply wanted to play football were killed. My condolences to their families,” Baerbock wrote on X.
“For months, Israeli citizens have been under fire from Hezbollah and other extremists. The perfidious attacks must stop immediately. It is important to act with cool heads. Far too many people have died already in this conflict.”
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