A commemorative wall painting honoring young victims of Middle Eastern violence will be revealed in Israel, featuring the children through the symbolic imagery of a soccer game, according to organizers and creator Hooman Khalili.
The artwork depicts Druze youth wearing green jerseys, representing the dozen children who lost their lives when a Hezbollah rocket struck Majdal Shams on July 27, 2024, as they played soccer. They face children dressed in red, symbolizing minors who died in Iran following September 2022. The young people are shown as teammates rather than opponents.
Positioned above the soccer scene is Zahra Azadpour, a young female soccer player who died during Iranian civil unrest in January 2026, depicted serving as the game’s referee.
The memorial artwork features landmarks from both regions, including Nabi Shu’ayb (Jethro’s Tomb) located in the Galilee region and Tehran’s Azadi Tower, combined with the Lion and Sun emblem, which project organizers say symbolizes strength and cultural identity.
The Druze victims remembered in the memorial are Fajr Laith, Ameer Rabeea, Hazem Akram, Wadeea Ibrahim, Iseel Nashaat, Yazan Nayeif, Finis Adham, Alma Ayman, Naji Taher, Milad Muadad, and Nathem Fakher.
Iranian youth honored in the piece include Kian Pirfalak, Sarina Esmailzadeh, Nika Shakarami, Asra Panahi, Mohammad Eghbal, Hasti Narouei, Mona Naghib, Helen Ahmadi, Ali Rezaei, and Mirshekar Abolfazl, among others.
The project information references Amnesty International findings that Iranian security personnel killed children during demonstrations through gunfire, metal projectiles, and physical violence, with officials later trying to hide these incidents and intimidate grieving families.
Creator Hooman Khalili shared with The Media Line: “I see these murals and banners as the roots of something much bigger. The roots are here in Israel—but my hope is that the tree will grow and fully blossom in the United States.”
Khalili continued, “My prayer is to have this mural installed in the US before or during the FIFA World Cup, when the eyes of the world are watching. When that moment comes, I want people everywhere to see the truth—to understand the brutality of the Islamic regime and the reality that children are being targeted.”
“This is about making sure their stories are seen, remembered, and impossible to ignore,” Khalili concluded.
Khalili, born in Tehran in 1974, is an Iranian-American artist, filmmaker, and human rights advocate recognized for creating large-scale murals supporting Iranian demonstrators and drawing attention to human rights violations. Raised in California, he has contributed to film, radio, and public art initiatives throughout Israel and the United States.
