A football match to remember the Druze children killed at Majdal Shams

The match was held at the Israel National Team Training Ground in Shefayim, just north of Herzliya, and sponsored by El Al Airlines and the retailer Mega Sport.

“We are going to bring a lawsuit against Hezbollah, on behalf of the injured children and the families of those killed in the attack in Israel. In the process of representing them, we came up with the idea of organising an exhibition soccer game,” Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, president of Shurat HaDin, told the JC at the match.

Activist Yoseph Haddad and model Tomer Hacohen[Missing Credit]

“Some of them stopped playing, some are afraid to return to the soccer field because of the memories. This is a moment of unity, looking toward the future,” she said.

In Majdal Shams, Khaiter said the atmosphere has been heavy since the rocket attack on July 26, 2024.

“People don’t smile as much. It is not easy what we went through,” he said. “Twelve children were murdered, 24 were injured – most of them very badly. Children lost fingers, had things removed from their stomach. It is very difficult.

“My son, every time someone asks him about the attack, he turns away, becomes nervous, and doesn’t want to speak or hear about it – he just sits on the sidelines,” Khaiter continued. “Every week he meets with psychologists, and each session lasts an hour to an hour and a half. He comes out a different person, tired.

“Events like this help a lot. Everyone plays football, all the children. It is their life.”

Noleen Abu Saleh’s son, Alan, who was severely injured in the attack, was also able to take part in the exhibition match. Abu Saleh described the long and difficult recovery, saying Alan spent four months in the hospital and underwent multiple surgeries.

“Day after day, we woke up with anxiety. It was a period of uncertainty and hard moments, balancing the pain of losing our 12 stars with the miracle of the children who survived,” she told the JC. “He is not the same child he was, but we are grateful for every moment since he was saved. He is with us, trying to recover and return to himself.”

[Missing Credit]

She said the survival of the children carries a responsibility to share their story and strengthen other young people. “I see hope in them and the importance of being together and building resilience, even in everyday life. Events like this help us remember the pain our children and community have endured, and they are proof of the strength of Israeli society – its solidarity, unity, and support that help our children continue to recover,” she said.
At the match, the children were split between a team of veteran Israeli soccer players and a team of artists and influencers, including actor and model Tomer Hacohen and activist Yoseph Haddad.

“We are playing soccer, and everybody knows that through sports you bridge gaps between Jews and Arabs, whether they are Muslims, Christians or Druze,” said Haddad. “And of course, it’s very important for us to support the Druze children from Majdal Shams.

“We are sending a clear message: we sanctify life when they sanctify death,” he continued. “We are on the good side of this conflict. We are all here together, we will have fun with the kids. To see them smile, that’s the most important thing.”

Joining the veteran soccer team was Amir Shelach, who played for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 1990s.

“Every year, these children and their parents came to the fields to cheer me on,” he told the JC. “Today, I have the strength and ability to give back a little during such a challenging and difficult time and cheer them on.

“Our people have been going through too many disasters lately. I think that even a moment or an hour when everyone forgets, playing in the stadium, running happily, having fun, is important. The community gave to us, and we give back to the community.”

At the national team training center next to the field, where children received their own soccer kits and balls signed by the players, the JC spoke with Ronit Glasman, who heads the Israel Football Association’s business development and marketing department.

“The association has a long relationship with Majdal Shams. We have a football club that brings together 400 children from across the area, and we organised activities after the tragedy to support the community,” she said.

Shino Zuaretz, chairman of the Israel Football Association, described the event as a powerful symbol of unity and hope, honoring the memory of the children who were killed.

“This is a deeply moving event that symbolises unity and hope for the future, even as we carry the pain and memory of the tragedy that took the lives of the beloved children of Majdal Shams,” Zuaretz said. “Football is not just a game – it is a tool that helps heal and connect people.”

The match ended with Israel’s veteran team narrowly defeating the artists and influencers team, 6-5.