By Samuel Timothy
Thousands gathered on Sunday to mourn the children and young people killed in a rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, as world leaders worked to manage the political fallout.
Members of the Druze community wept and carried caskets through Majdal Shams, while some expressed anger at government ministers present, according to Israeli media.
The White House attributed the attack, which killed 12 people, to the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, a claim also made by Israel. Hezbollah, however, denied responsibility.
In response to Saturday’s strike, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted Hezbollah positions in Lebanon overnight, and Hezbollah retaliated by striking two Israeli military bases on Sunday.
Tensions between the two sides have escalated since Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israeli sites following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, which triggered Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Hezbollah claims its actions support the Palestinians.
Saturday’s attack was the deadliest incident in and around Israel’s northern border since October. The strike hit a football pitch in Majdal Shams, a town in the Golan Heights where about 25,000 Druze live.
Israel’s foreign ministry reported that 10 of the 12 victims were aged 10 to 16, but did not provide details on the other two victims’ ages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vowed that Hezbollah would “pay a heavy price,” returned to Israel on Sunday after cutting short his trip to the US. He planned to meet with military chiefs to assess the situation and approve operational plans.
At the funeral in Majdal Shams, mourners carried 10 white-covered caskets through packed streets, with women in black abayas laying flowers on the caskets. Some attendees carried large photos of the deceased children.
“Our community is very close-knit. These children are like children of everybody in the village,” Fadi Mahmud, 48, told AFP.
Anger at the funeral was directed at Israeli government officials, with some hecklers expressing frustration and accusing them of neglecting the community.
Global leaders condemned the attack and called for de-escalation, though opinions differed on who was responsible. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the strike and urged Hezbollah to cease its attacks, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken supported Israel’s right to defend itself but warned against escalation.
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bouhabib expressed doubt that Hezbollah carried out the attack, suggesting it could have been a mistake by either party.
The Lebanese government condemned the violence and called for a ceasefire on all fronts.
