Residents mourn 12 children killed in rocket strike in Golan Heights

Residents in Majdal Shams, a Druze town located in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, are deeply devastated after a rocket strike killed 12 youngsters on a football pitch, with Israeli officials calling for retaliation against Hezbollah, the Lebanese group blamed for the attack.

The rocket strike on Saturday hit a football pitch in Majdal Shams during a football training session, tragically claiming the lives of 12 children and teenagers, all under the age of 16.

The death toll could potentially increase as more young people are admitted to hospitals with life-threatening injuries. The loss of life is always deeply devastating, especially within a tight-knit community where everyone is closely connected, intensifying the tragedy.

"It's hard, it's painful for all of us, because like me, I used to come here a lot, almost every day. And here in our community, if you lose one, we all lose one. We are so close together, and yesterday we lost 12. That's a heavy hit for us," said Adham Abu Salah, a resident in Majdal Shams.

Despite international appeals to prevent further regional escalation, Israel's security cabinet gathered Sunday night to deliberate on retaliation measures against Hezbollah following the rocket strike.

According to a statement issued following the meeting, the cabinet ministers had granted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant the authority "to decide on the manner of the response against Hezbollah, and on its timing."

"This infamy happened yesterday against this village. The state of Israel, and the Israeli army, will find a way, according to our decision-making process to respond," said Olivier Rafowicz, a spokesman of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Hezbollah, which Israel holds responsible for the rocket attack, has been engaged in conflicts with Israeli forces along the Israel-Lebanon border since October last year. The group has denied involvement in the rocket strike.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on October 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.

Residents mourn 12 children killed in rocket strike in Golan Heights

Gaza's healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, as Israel continues its attacks and blocks the entry of humanitarian aid, with hospitals overwhelmed by a relentless influx of wounded civilians and many patients left untreated.

The situation in Gaza's hospitals is rapidly deteriorating into a catastrophe. Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital has become the primary center for hundreds of injured Palestinians in Gaza City, with every corner of the facility overwhelmed. Medical workers at the hospital have expressed their inability to cope with the growing number of patients flooding in from the daily Israeli strikes.

"Each airstrike on high-rise buildings or residential areas leaves hundreds of casualties. No hospital in Gaza can handle such numbers," said Tamer Sultan, a medical worker.

Amid the conflict, not only trauma patients but also chronically ill individuals are unable to access basic medical treatment. Medical workers warn that lives are being lost -- not just to bombs, but to the lack of essential care.

"My brother has been here for 20 days. He needs spinal surgery, but nothing has happened. He's in constant pain as the painkillers aren't working anymore," said Mahmoud Nasser, brother of a patient.

As the number of wounded continues to rise, Gaza's hospitals are running critically low on essential medicines and supplies. With no way to restock, health officials say the ability to treat even the most urgent cases is slipping away.

"The high number of injuries has led to massive consumption of medicines and supplies. With border crossings closed, we can't replenish stock, and this severe shortage means we can't properly treat patients and the wounded," said Alaa Helles, director of the Hospital Pharmacy Department at Gaza's Ministry of Health.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has issued a stark alert about the health crisis in Gaza, stating that the suspension of humanitarian aid has led to a dramatic shortage of medical supplies.

Gaza's healthcare system near collapse as Israeli attacks, aid blockade persist