American Druze Community Fearful Majdal Shams Attack Will Be Used To Justify More Violence
As the US’s small Druze community mourns the 12 children killed in the Majdal Shams strike, some American Druze are concerned about Israel’s politicization of the attack
The deaths of 12 Druze children in the Golan Heights town of Majdal Shams shocked the Druze community around the world, including America’s small Druze population. The 50,000 or so American Druze, who live scattered across the country with hubs in Detroit, Washington, DC, and Dallas-Fort Worth, share a common grief but make sense of the attack in various ways.
Suliman (not his real name), a Druze American originally from Majdal Shams, told The Media Line that his cousin was injured in the attack.
The past few days have been incredibly sad for me, feeling as though I’ve lost members of my own family
“The past few days have been incredibly sad for me, feeling as though I’ve lost members of my own family,” he said. “My cousin is still in the hospital, though thankfully, the doctors have said their condition is stable now.”
He said that the American Druze community’s reaction to the attack has been mixed. “While some individuals have expressed their support and condolences through social media, the overall response hasn’t been as unified or proactive as one might expect,” he said. “Maybe I’m answering out of emotions now, but I’m slightly disappointed.”
Suliman noted that other communities in America have also failed to express significant support for the Druze. “To be honest, given that the Jewish community has been dealing with their own challenges since October 7, I didn’t expect much from them,” he said.
Much like the Middle Eastern Druze community, the American Druze community is also politically diverse. Some individuals are staunchly anti-Hezbollah, the Lebanese group believed to have launched the missile at Majdal Shams, while others show varying levels of support for the organization.
Israeli Druze are often characterized as supportive of the government, and Druze citizens of Israel are required to serve in the military, unlike members of other Arab groups.
The Druze community has been known since its inception for its peaceful coexistence with everyone despite facing persecution, accusations of betrayal, and even excommunication
“The Druze community has been known since its inception for its peaceful coexistence with everyone despite facing persecution, accusations of betrayal, and even excommunication,” Sheikh Amir (not his real name), a religious leader in the American Druze community, told The Media Line. “We coexist with each state and regime separately.”
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The characterization of Israeli Druze as loyal to the state is somewhat of an oversimplification, since many Druze in the Golan Heights have a more complicated relationship with Israel, refusing Israeli citizenship and identifying instead as Syrians. The international Druze community is also critical of Israel due to historical and ongoing conflicts, such as the occupation of the Golan Heights, the invasion of Lebanon, and the war in Gaza.
Suliman said that the diverse political opinions in the Druze community might be behind the lack of a unified response.
“Some people are deeply saddened and have expressed grief, while others seem to have continued their daily lives,” he said. “This variance might be due to the geographical and emotional distance, as well as individual coping mechanisms. The current political and religious divisions also play a significant role in how people respond to such tragedies. These factors can sometimes create barriers to a unified community reaction, even in the face of such a devastating event.”
Adam (not his real name), another leader in the American Druze community, said that American Druze are divided in their analysis of the Majdal Shams attack. “The division lies in who is to blame on multiple levels and what is to be done about it, which is inherently informed by the political opinions and national origins of community members,” he told The Media Line.
I do not want the tragic death of children to be used for political capital by Israeli leadership or justification for any retaliatory attacks on Lebanon
Many American Druze are concerned about what an Israeli response to the attack will look like. “I’m speaking for quite a few people here, but I do not want the tragic death of children to be used for political capital by Israeli leadership or justification for any retaliatory attacks on Lebanon,” Adam said.
“What many of us are seeing is Israeli leadership leaning on the tragedy to further a war,” he continued. He criticized Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as hypocritical for his statement that the Druze killed in the attack “are our children.”
Adam said that most coverage of the attack has been from an Israeli perspective, with many Israelis posting an image of an Israeli flag alongside a Druze flag in online solidarity. That image “is incredibly offensive to non-Israeli Druze and does not capture the sentiment even within the Golan,” he said, noting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich were berated upon their condolence visit to Majdal Shams and ultimately forced to leave.
He also criticized some media outlets for describing the victims as Israeli, even though none of those killed held Israeli citizenship, and for referring to the Golan Heights as part of Israel.
The Golan Heights were captured by Israel from Syria in 1967 and effectively annexed in 1981. The US has recognized the Golan Heights as part of Israel since 2019, but the rest of the international community does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the area.
“I do not want the death of these children to be used as justification for any more deaths,” Adam said. He expressed frustration with the sympathy shown toward the children of Majdal Shams in the context of the relative apathy toward the many children killed in Gaza.
“Many Israeli Druze I know, who are very nationalistic and supportive of the IDF, haven’t posted a single story on social media about the civilians in Gaza, yet in recent days have flooded social media with images of the Golan,” he said.
He described Israeli Druze as outliers in their attitudes toward Israel and the Palestinians. “There are prominent Druze who are involved with political parties in Israel or serve in high-ranking IDF positions,” he said. “This is a point of division in the community, especially in the United States, where the Druze are, as a community, generally critical of Israel.”
Most of the US Druze community is from Lebanon or the Syrian city of As-Suwayda, Adam noted. “I don’t believe many people from the Golan live in the United States,” he said. “There are a few from Israel, but the Lebanese and Syrian community is the most prominent.”
“While the Druze are a minority, we are still Arab. Therefore, our political convictions and differences, especially in the Middle East, are part of the broader Levantine Arab American community, whether Christian, Sunni, or Shia,” Adam said. “It feels natural to paint with broad strokes, but politically, the Druze span the spectrum.”
Just as many American Druze criticize the Israeli government, many are critical of Hezbollah and Iran as well. Sheikh Amir said that he condemned all killing, especially of civilians and children.
“It is clear that the rocket that hit Majdal Shams came from Hezbollah, and many rockets have consistently hit the Galilee and Golan regions,” Amir said. “In my personal opinion, Hezbollah, backed by Iran, and Iran’s dream of controlling the entire region will lead to wars and destruction. The incident involving the children was not intentional or planned, but if it were not for the random and irresponsible shelling, such mistakes might not have happened.”
Suliman said that the Druze community ultimately wants peace. “Many people don’t like us for being in Israel, but the fact is, we don’t choose where we are born,” he said. “Personally, I came to the States hoping to find a sense of belonging, as I never felt I fully belonged to any country. I am a proud Druze and grateful for my heritage.”
