Excessive within the mountains of the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, the city of Majdal Shams is dwelling to members of one of many Center East’s most insular spiritual minorities: the Druze.

With its roots in tenth century Ismailism, a department of Shiite Islam, the roughly 1 million-strong minority is unfold throughout Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Golan Heights.

Round 25,000 dwell within the Golan Heights, a rocky plateau seized from Syria by Israel within the 1967 Mideast struggle. Israel’s 1981 annexation of the realm is acknowledged solely by the USA, with the remainder of the world contemplating it occupied Syrian territory.

Most Druze spiritual practices are shrouded in secrecy, with outsiders not allowed to transform. Solely glimpses are seen: girls sporting conventional flowing white headscarves; males with spherical white hats and flowing beards.

Though Israeli citizenship is open for the Druze of the Golan Heights, most have opted to not take it, although they’ve residency rights.

They intently preserve their Druze id and traditions. The autumn of Syrian President Bashar Assad per week in the past noticed folks take to the streets in Majdal Shams to rejoice Assad’s ouster, with the pink, yellow, blue, white and inexperienced Druze flag that includes as prominently because the insurgent Syrian inexperienced, white and black flag with three pink stars.

Because the area is riven as soon as extra by upheaval and preventing, proof of the 1967 struggle remains to be clear to see, with previous trenches and deserted tanks. A safety fence, topped by coils of barbed wire, now runs alongside the outskirts of the city, throughout a subject from the close by Alpha Line.

The present wars haven’t left Majdal Shams unscathed both. On Oct. 8, 2023, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah started attacking Israel in solidarity with Hamas’ cross-border assault the day before today, sparking practically 14 months of preventing alongside Israel’s northern entrance. On a night in late July, a rocket struck a soccer subject in Madjal Shams whereas youngsters performed. Twelve youngsters, ages 10 to 16, had been killed, and about 20 different folks had been wounded.

The strike plunged the city into mourning. 5 months later, soccer video games have resumed within the taking part in subject, the place a small make-shift memorial with toys and teddy bears marks the spot the place the rocket hit.

Israel’s cease-fire with Hezbollah final month introduced the city a short respite. However with Syria’s Assad toppled and Syrian militant teams and Israeli troops energetic throughout the border, the residents of Majdal Shams, a lot of whom have family members in Syria, now face extra uncertainty and insecurity.

Some households are cut up aside by what is named the Alpha Line, the beginning of a buffer zone that separates the Israeli-controlled space of the Golan Heights from Syria. They navigate their traditionally Syrian id whereas dwelling underneath Israeli rule. Throughout the border in Lebanon and Syria, the Druze typically adopted Arab nationalism, together with assist for the Palestinian trigger.

Israel has additionally constructed settlements within the Golan Heights that at the moment are dwelling to some 25,000 Israeli Jews, and the realm is a well-liked vacationer spot for Israelis. Many flock to the mountainous area for the surroundings and the native scorching springs.