The July 27th attack in Majdal Shams, a Druze town in the Golan Heights, claimed the lives of twelve children and teens and left 34 injured. The tragedy deeply impacted this close-knit, family-centered community. The shock and grief touched nearly every family, bringing together local organizations, educators, and residents in a shared commitment to support their youth through this difficult time. Several national civil society organizations responded with essential expertise and resources to address the emotional needs of the town’s children and teens, offering a path toward hope and healing. We are offering updates from two national NGOs who have been working with Druze youth since the attack.
Dror Israel, an NGO dedicated to fostering long-term educational and social change in Israeli society, was one of the first to respond. Its mission promotes solidarity, social activism, democracy, and equality through programs for youth at risk, Jewish-Arab initiatives, educational workshops and community projects. Their youth movement, HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed (NOAL), operates in Israel’s Jewish, Arab, and Druze localities. The Majdal Shams NOAL chapter, which was established ten years ago, has about 200 members, three of them were lost on July 27th.
Following the attack, they mobilized educators and psychologists in Majdal Shams, including several NOAL alumni, to provide “educational first-aid” and create safe spaces for children and teens to express their emotions. Dror Israel’s teams have been leading therapeutic workshops, offering psychological support, mourning circles and organizing activities designed to help children process the event.
Beyond Majdal Shams, the trauma is felt in neighboring Druze towns, Mas’ade and Buq’ata. Youth members of NOAL have been gathering nightly for support circles, providing mutual encouragement and a safe space for expression. As the new school year begins, the organization’s efforts highlight the need for continued support as Druze communities griev and build resilience.
Rabeea Bhsas, NAOL youth educator, shared: “We organize sports, activities, and community gatherings to help the children cope.” Samir Asad, a coordinator of Druze activities in NOAL, noted the visible trauma among the town’s youth, struggling to comprehend the tragedy they witnessed: “Our challenge is not the fear of what might happen, but the trauma of what has already happened. We have a heavy responsibility today as leaders to be able to come to our senses and see how we can support our members now and move past this event.” “Now, we are planning a joint activity to bring together the children from Majdal Shams with those from the Gaza border area,” said Tom Vizel, the director of the youth movement’s education department. “These are children who have experienced things no child should go through, but we hope they can strengthen each other and help heal Israeli society, sharing their pain and learning from each other how to cope in a situation that is different but similar, through an educational approach.”
ELEM, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting at-risk youth in Israel. With a professional team of Arabic-speaking staff, ELEM is working in Majdal Shams three nights a week, offering psychological support in informal settings where teens feel comfortable.
Addressing trauma promptly after a crisis is essential to minimizing its long-term effects, and ELEM’s approach reinforces the community’s ability to support its young members effectively.
ELEM’s team has been actively training local educators on recognizing and addressing trauma symptoms, empowering them to identify signs of distress and provide outreach within the community. The organization’s support emphasizes immediate, informal interventions to help teens begin processing their experiences and return to daily routines, fostering resilience in the face of adversity.
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