By Twink Jones Gadama
The Druze community in Majdal Shams, a village in the Golan Heights, is reeling from the devastating loss of 11 children killed in a Hezbollah rocket attack on Saturday.
The attack has sparked widespread outrage and grief, with many demanding a firm response from the Israeli government to protect its citizens.
Thousands of people, including coalition ministers, attended the funerals of the 11 children, who were killed while playing soccer in a field.
The emotional ceremony was marked by tears, anger, and frustration, as many questioned the government’s ability to protect its citizens.
Energy Minister Eli Cohen, Economy Minister Nir Barkat, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and Interior Minister Moshe Arbel were among the ministers who attended the funerals.
However, their presence was met with skepticism and anger by some, who felt that they had abandoned the northern communities to Hezbollah attacks.
Smotrich acknowledged the frustration, saying, “The massacre of the children of Majdal Shams is unimaginable.
I share in the sorrow of the families, and the entire Druze community. This is a great sorrow for the entire State of Israel.”
Cohen vowed to demand a heavy price from Lebanon and Hezbollah, saying, “The entire world needs to see the difficult pictures and understand what evil the State of Israel is facing.
The murder of children will not pass in silence.”
However, many in the crowd were not convinced, shouting at the ministers for failing to protect the northern communities.
“You abandoned us for nine months and now you are here?” a man shouted at Barkat and Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman.
Several Druze leaders demanded a “forceful” response from Israel, threatening to retaliate themselves if Israel does not take action. Samir Halabi, a resident of Majdal Shams, said, “We are staying here. Majdal Shams is ours. The Golan is ours.
If you [Israel] don’t know how to defend, we will know how to defend ourselves.”
The attack has raised questions about the government’s ability to protect its citizens, particularly in the north.
The IDF has been criticized for its response to Hezbollah attacks, with some accusing it of being too slow and ineffective.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Hezbollah would pay a “heavy price” and convened the Security Cabinet to discuss Israel’s response to the attack.
However, many are skeptical about the government’s ability to take decisive action.
As the Druze community mourns the loss of its children, it is clear that the attack has sparked a wider crisis of confidence in the government’s ability to protect its citizens.
The demand for action is growing louder, and the government will be under pressure to deliver a decisive response to Hezbollah’s aggression.
In the meantime, the people of Majdal Shams will continue to grieve and demand justice for the children who were senselessly killed.
As one resident said, “We will not let it pass. We will not let our children die in vain.”
