Twelve children and young people were killed by a Hezbollah rocket in Majdal Shams on July 27, 2024 (Photo: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
At least 12 children and young people aged between 10 and 20 were killed and dozens more seriously injured when a Hezbollah-fired rocket hit the football field of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights on Saturday evening.
A large rescue team, including ambulances and helicopters, rushed to the Druze village of Majdal Shams, where at least 12 children were seriously injured in the attack and died within hours, according to the Magen David Adom (MDA) rescue team.
As of 8:40 a.m. Sunday, the names of 11 of the 12 children had been released.
Mirah Ma'dad al-Shahr, 10 years old; Alma Ayman Fakhr al-Din, 11 years old; Naji Taher Halabi, 11 years old; Yazan Naif Abu Salah, 12 years old; Izil Nashat Ayub, 12 years old; Finis Adham Safadi, 12 years old; John Wadi Ibrahim, 13 years old; Hazem Akram Abu Salah, 15 years old; Fazil Rais Abu Salah, 16 years old; Amir Rabi Abu Salah, 16 years old; Nazem Faqer Saeb.
The site of a Hezbollah rocket attack on the Druze village of Majdal Shams in northern Israel on July 27, 2024. (Photo: Social Media)
Additionally, Jib Hospital in Safed announced that it had received 32 injured people at around 10pm, six in serious condition, 13 in moderate to serious condition, 10 with minor injuries, and several others in shock and being treated.
Israeli emergency personnel arrive at the scene after a Hezbollah rocket attack in the Druze village of Majdal Shams in northern Israel on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Magen David Adom)
A total of at least 40 people were killed or wounded in the attack, making it the deadliest incident to date on Israel's northern front and the deadliest in civilian casualties so far of the current war.
“When we arrived at the football field we saw destroyed buildings and things on fire. The wounded were lying on the grass and it was a very difficult situation. We immediately started sorting the wounded, some of them were taken to the local clinic and our team was directed there,” said paramedic Idan Avshalom.
“Further alerts were issued throughout the incident and treatment for the victim is currently ongoing,” he added.
Israeli emergency personnel arrive at the scene after a Hezbollah rocket attack in the Druze village of Majdal Shams in northern Israel on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Magen David Adom)
Majdal Shams is about six kilometers (four miles) from the Lebanese border, and its residents have not been evacuated, unlike tens of thousands of others in towns closer to the border.
The Israel Defense Forces later announced that troops and helicopters were assisting in rescue and evacuation efforts in the town.
Israeli officials told media that they had briefed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on details of the incident and were holding security consultations.
Prime Minister Netanyahu remained in the United States after extending his stay. Meet former US President Donald Trump In Florida, which required him to be in the US for the weekend, Israeli leaders do not typically travel on the Jewish Sabbath.
Israeli media reported that the prime minister's team would decide whether to return to Israel for Shabbat after an upcoming phone call with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Following criticism that Netanyahu had not decided sooner to return to Israel despite facing the worst attacks since the start of the war, his office announced he would return early.
“As soon as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu learned of the disaster, he gave instructions for all to return to Israel as soon as possible,” the prime minister's office said.
The Israel Defense Forces said after an initial meeting of its top military officials that it was preparing a full response to the attack, and that it would investigate why the rocket used in the attack, which it said was a particularly heavy type, was not intercepted by the Israeli Air Force (IAF).
Israeli rescue teams arrive at the scene of a Hezbollah rocket attack in the village of Majdal Shams on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Michael Giladi/Flash90)
The IDF also stressed that according to available information the launch was carried out by Hezbollah, although the Lebanese terrorist group denied any involvement in the incident in an unusual statement later that evening.
“Hezbollah was behind the rocket attack that struck the Majdal Shams football field earlier this evening, causing numerous civilian casualties, including children,” the IDF reiterated.
The deadly rocket attack was part of several heavy barrages aimed at northern Galilee and the Golan Heights on Saturday afternoon. Hezbollah claimed 12 attacks that day, higher than its daily average over the past few weeks.
The Israel Defense Forces said an initial salvo of about 30 rockets aimed at Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights was partially intercepted.
A further barrage of around 10 rockets was then fired towards the Neve Ativ area, landing in an open area before a deadly rocket attack was fired towards Majdal Shams.
The heavy rocket attack came after an Israeli Defense Forces attack in southern Lebanon, killing four members of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Forces, according to Lebanese media.
According to reports, soldiers from the IDF's 869th Field Intelligence Battalion spotted terrorists entering military facilities, including an munitions depot, near Kafr Qila, and then ordered Israeli Air Force fighter jets to attack the buildings.
Earlier in the day, Hezbollah launched two drones at the Ifta neighborhood and two rockets at Shtura. No one was injured or damaged in the attacks.
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