On a fateful Saturday in Majdal Shams, a heartbreaking incident unfolded as a rocket struck a football pitch in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, claiming the lives of eleven-year-old Alma and 11 other children. The town's Syrian Druze community was left reeling from the devastating attack, which also left at least 44 people wounded.
Amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the residents of Majdal Shams have sadly become accustomed to the sound of sirens and the sight of rockets overhead. However, the magnitude of this tragedy has left them in a state of shock and disbelief.
Alma, described as a vibrant and energetic young girl by her father, Ayman Fakhr al-Din, was known as daddy's little girl who loved playing sports. Her untimely demise has shattered the tight-knit community of Majdal Shams.
When the rocket struck, Ayman Fakhr al-Din immediately reached out to his eldest son, Rayan, who had been playing on the football pitch with Alma and their younger brother just moments before the attack. Thankfully, Rayan and his brother escaped unharmed, but Alma was not as fortunate.
Upon arriving at the scene of the tragedy, Fakhr al-Din was met with a harrowing sight of devastation. Among the lifeless bodies and scattered body parts, he recognized Alma by a bracelet on her wrist, confirming the unimaginable loss.
The grief-stricken community of Majdal Shams came together to mourn the young lives lost in the senseless attack. Thousands of mourners gathered for a funeral procession, with onlookers standing on balconies and rooftops to pay their respects to the innocent victims.
As Majdal Shams grapples with the aftermath of this tragic event, the memory of Alma and the other children will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved them.
