Mourners at the funeral of children and teens killed in a rocket strike at a football field, in Majdal Shams. AP
Mourners at the funeral of children and teens killed in a rocket strike at a football field, in Majdal Shams. AP
Mourners at the funeral of children and teens killed in a rocket strike at a football field, in Majdal Shams. AP
Mourners at the funeral of children and teens killed in a rocket strike at a football field, in Majdal Shams. AP

Israelis criticise government and brace for war with Hezbollah after deadly rocket attack


Thomas Helm
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow latest on Israel-Gaza

Israelis reacted with a mixture of horror and anger after a rocket strike on Saturday killed 12 people, most of them children, in the occupied Golan Heights with many now fearing a devastating war with Hezbollah.

Residents in the north of Israel have warned for about 10 months that a miscalculation in the retaliatory rocket fire and air strikes between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon on a near daily basis could spark a full-scale war.

Sarit Zehavi, a security expert on northern Israel who lives in the western Galilee, told The National that “it felt like a matter of time until something like this would happen”.

“Each time I went to a graduation ceremony of one of my kids during the past month I asked myself what would happen to us since we saw an increase of Hezbollah attacks in un-evacuated areas [where we live],” she said.

Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 war and annexed it in 1981.

Neighbouring Druze communities to Majdal Shams within Israel serve in the country’s military and have joined the chorus of outrage after the attacks.

Lior Shelef, an Israeli reservist and volunteer fireman who serves on his kibbutz home a short distance from Majdal Shams, told The National that the strike “should be a trigger for war”.

Mr Shelef, whose family was forced to evacuate after October 7 along with tens of thousands of other Israelis who live in border regions, also criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I’ve been in reserve duty for almost 300 days and my family is evacuated in a hotel. If that’s not a trigger for a war already then I don’t know what is,” he said from his car, as he rushed towards fires caused by a heavy barrage of Hezbollah rockets on Saturday.

Mourners at a funeral for 10 of the victims were angry at government ministers in the crowd, The Times of Israel reported, with one man shouting to applause: “You abandoned us for nine months and now you are here?”

Mourners at the coffin during a funeral for people killed in a rocket strike from Lebanon a day earlier, in the occupied Golan Heights. Bloomberg
Mourners at the coffin during a funeral for people killed in a rocket strike from Lebanon a day earlier, in the occupied Golan Heights. Bloomberg

Opposition politicians were also in attendance, including opposition leader Yair Lapid, who criticised the government on X, writing that their response to the strike was “an insult to the residents of the north”.

“Your job is not to explain what should have been done, but to do it,” he wrote.

On Sunday afternoon, Mr Netanyahu landed in Israel after cutting his US trip short. He was criticised for being outside of the country at the time of the strike.

Trade in blame

The strike was swiftly condemned in Lebanon and internationally.

Hezbollah denied being behind the attack.

Rumours soon spread that the deaths were caused by an Israeli military air defence interceptor. Syria also accused Israel of being behind the incident.

Dr Yehoshua Kalisky, senior researcher at Israeli think tank INSS, said the rumour was a “big lie” because the Iron Dome air defence system did not have enough time to intercept the short-range Falaq-1 rocket which Israel said was the projectile used in the strike.

“There’s also no way an Iron Dome interceptor could cause such damage because they do not detonate. They just lead to metal debris, which can hit a person but never the sort of detonation injuries that we saw, which have meant that some of the bodies are still not identifiable,” he said.

“My impression is that this was a mistake. [Hezbollah] was aiming at a military base but missed because these rockets are inaccurate. It does not diminish responsibility. The children are massacred. Hezbollah should be punished for this.”

The attack renewed calls by some in Israel for a full-on war in Lebanon.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on X that his “heart is broken to pieces [for the] innocent little children who all wanted to play football”.

“We will not rest until we take revenge on the despicable terrorists who mercilessly beat and slaughtered our children.”

The scene after the strike on Majdal Shams. AFP
The scene after the strike on Majdal Shams. AFP

A large operation has been advocated by coalition partners closer to the political centre, including Defence Minister Yoav Gallant who reportedly favoured a pre-emptive strike against Hezbollah soon after the October 7 attacks.

Advocates of war say it is the only way to restore security in the north and bring back residents.

They claim a ground operation is the best way to destroy the sites and supply points Hezbollah uses for its short-range rocket and anti-tank missile attacks.

Dr Kalisky, who did not support a full-scale war fearing it would endanger Israeli hostages in Gaza and inflict intolerable damage on Israel, said the short-range attacks remain a “problem” for Israel.

“Israel’s air defence has several excellent layers against medium and long-range threats, so between about 4km to 200,” he said.

“There is a ‘problem’ for very short-range threats. The only way the army can deal with that threat is to attack the sources of the fire. There is no way to defend once they are launched.”

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Brief scores

Barcelona 2

Pique 36', Alena 87'

Villarreal 0

While you're here
The biog

Family: Parents and four sisters

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah

A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls

Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction

Favourite holiday destination: Italy

Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning

Has created a database of Emirati and GCC sportspeople on Instagram @abeermk, highlight: Athletes

Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Brief scoreline:

Liverpool 5

Keita 1', Mane 23', 66', Salah 45' 1, 83'

Huddersfield 0

MATCH INFO

Group B

Bayern Munich v Tottenham, midnight (Thursday)

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:

Ajax 2-3 Tottenham

Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate

Final: June 1, Madrid

BeIN Sports currently has the rights to show

- Champions League

- English Premier League

- Spanish Primera Liga 

- Italian, French and Scottish leagues

- Wimbledon and other tennis majors

- Formula One

- Rugby Union - Six Nations and European Cups

 

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

Joy%20Ride%20
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Nepotism is the name of the game

Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

Bharat

Director: Ali Abbas Zafar

Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding

Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.

Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.

Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.

For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae

 

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The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK 

Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV

Results

4pm: Maiden; Dh165,000 (Dirt); 1,400m
Winner: Solar Shower; William Lee (jockey); Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

4.35pm: Handicap; Dh165,000 (D); 2,000m
Winner: Thaaqib; Antonio Fresu; Erwan Charpy.

5.10pm: Maiden; Dh165,000 (Turf); 1,800m
Winner: Bila Shak; Adrie de Vries; Fawzi Nass

5.45pm: Handicap; Dh175,000 (D); 1,200m
Winner: Beachcomber Bay; Richard Mullen; Satish Seemar

6.20pm: Handicap;​​​​​​​ Dh205,000 (T); 1,800m
Winner: Muzdawaj; Jim Crowley;​​​​​​​ Musabah Al Muhairi

6.55pm: Handicap;​​​​​​​ Dh185,000 (D); 1,600m
Winner: Mazeed; Tadhg O’Shea;​​​​​​​ Satish Seemar

7.30pm: Handicap; Dh205,000 (T); 1,200m
Winner: Riflescope; Tadhg O’Shea;​​​​​​​ Satish Seemar.

MATCH INFO

Manchester City 1 (Gundogan 56')

Shakhtar Donetsk 1 (Solomon 69')

Asia Cup Qualifier

Venue: Kuala Lumpur

Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September

Fixtures:

Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore

Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman

Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal

Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore

Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu Sep 6: Final

 

Asia Cup

Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Schedule: Sep 15-28

Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20SupplyVan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2029%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MRO%20and%20e-commerce%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
if you go

The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow. 
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes). 

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EDate%20started%3A%20January%202022%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Omar%20Abu%20Innab%2C%20Silvia%20Eldawi%2C%20Walid%20Shihabi%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20PropTech%20%2F%20investment%3Cbr%3EEmployees%3A%2040%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Seed%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Multiple%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE%20athletes%20heading%20to%20Paris%202024
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEquestrian%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAbdullah%20Humaid%20Al%20Muhairi%2C%20Abdullah%20Al%20Marri%2C%20Omar%20Al%20Marzooqi%2C%20Salem%20Al%20Suwaidi%2C%20and%20Ali%20Al%20Karbi%20(four%20to%20be%20selected).%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EJudo%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMen%3A%20Narmandakh%20Bayanmunkh%20(66kg)%2C%20Nugzari%20Tatalashvili%20(81kg)%2C%20Aram%20Grigorian%20(90kg)%2C%20Dzhafar%20Kostoev%20(100kg)%2C%20Magomedomar%20Magomedomarov%20(%2B100kg)%3B%20women's%20Khorloodoi%20Bishrelt%20(52kg).%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECycling%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESafia%20Al%20Sayegh%20(women's%20road%20race).%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESwimming%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMen%3A%20Yousef%20Rashid%20Al%20Matroushi%20(100m%20freestyle)%3B%20women%3A%20Maha%20Abdullah%20Al%20Shehi%20(200m%20freestyle).%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAthletics%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMaryam%20Mohammed%20Al%20Farsi%20(women's%20100%20metres).%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Results:

First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15

Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24

Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Updated: July 28, 2024, 1:56 PM`