Golan Druze Reject Retaliation, Accuse Israel of Politicizing Tragedy

Druze residents of the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights distanced themselves on Tuesday from Israeli threats to retaliate against Hezbollah for a deadly rocket strike on their town.

The majority of the roughly 11,000 residents in Majdal Shams still identify as Syrian, despite Israel’s capture and later annexation of the Golan Heights, a move not recognized internationally.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the town on Monday, promising a “severe response” to the strike that killed 12 children aged 10 to 16 while they were playing football on Saturday.

On Tuesday, the Israeli army reported it had struck about 10 Hezbollah targets overnight, killing one fighter from the Iran-backed group.

During Netanyahu’s visit, many residents of Majdal Shams protested, wearing traditional Druze caps.

Netanyahu arrived shortly after hundreds of mourners attended the funeral procession for Guevara Ibrahim, an 11-year-old victim of the strike.

Following his visit, Druze leaders issued a statement rejecting the “attempt to exploit the name of Majdal Shams as a political platform at the expense of the blood of our children.”

The statement emphasized that the Druze faith forbids killing and revenge, and they opposed any bloodshed in the name of avenging their children.

**’Who Will We Strike?’**

The Israeli military has blamed Hezbollah for the rocket attack on Majdal Shams. Although Hezbollah has been engaged in regular cross-border fire with Israeli forces since the Gaza war began last October, the group has denied responsibility for this particular strike, despite claiming multiple attacks on Israeli military positions the same day.

An AFP journalist noted that Majdal Shams appeared to return to a semblance of normality on Tuesday, with shops open and people going about their day.

However, the Druze community remained deeply affected by the deaths of the children. Community leaders described the tragedy as immense, with every household in the Golan feeling the pain and loss.

Nabih Abu Saleh, a paramedic from Majdal Shams, told AFP that the town is in a state of mourning that may last for a week, with the sorrow palpable among residents.

Saleh stated that the community opposed any Israeli response, questioning, “Who will we strike? Our people in Syria and Lebanon?”

The Druze are an Arabic-speaking community, following an offshoot of Shiite Islam, and are present in Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, including the Golan Heights.

Violence on the Israel-Lebanon border since October has resulted in the deaths of 22 soldiers and 24 civilians on the Israeli side, including in the annexed Golan, according to the Israeli army. An AFP tally indicates that at least 527 people have been killed on the Lebanese side, mostly fighters but also at least 104 civilians.