In a moving gesture, German football giants Bayern Munich have donated 60 signed footballs to honor the memory of 12 children killed in a missile attack last July. The young victims, most of whom were youth football players, lost their lives when a rocket struck a football field in Majdal Shams, a Druze community in the Golan Heights.
The attack, which occurred on July 27, 2024, claimed the lives of Syrian Druze children between the ages of 10 and 16, and injured at least 42 others. The incident took place at 6:18 PM local time when a rocket hit the football pitch where children were playing. According to residents, while warning sirens activated, there were only seconds before impact, leaving no time to seek shelter.
The commemorative footballs, bearing signatures from Bayern Munich's first-team players, will be presented to the bereaved families during a special ceremony at Israeli President Isaac Herzog's residence. The initiative was personally overseen by Bayern Munich's Vice Chairman, Dr. Michael Diederich, following a request from the Histadrut labor organization.
German Ambassador to Israel Stefan Seibert shared photos of the families receiving the footballs on social media. "We will never forget the 12 Druze children who were killed by a Hezbollah missile on a football field in Majdal Shams," Seibert wrote. "Today we delivered 60 signed footballs donated by Bayern Munich in their memory."
The tragedy represents one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the region since October 2023. Most of the victims were young players from Bnei Mam'a HaGolan VeHaGalil, a youth football program that brings together children from Druze communities across northern Israel. The incident occurred amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, with both sides exchanging fire across the border.
The attack sparked significant community response, with over 300,000 shekels raised by more than 2,000 people to support the affected families in Majdal Shams. The Jewish Agency for Israel, Jewish Federations of North America, and Keren Hayesod also contributed an emergency aid donation of 600,000 NIS to the community.
This tribute from one of Europe's most prestigious football clubs is a poignant reminder of the tragedy that struck the small Druze community. For Majdal Shams, a town where approximately 75% of residents identified as Syrian at the time of the attack, the loss of these young lives has left an indelible mark on the community, transcending political boundaries and highlighting the viciousness of Hezbollah towards all Israelis, regardless of their religion or ethnicity.
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