Twelve Injured in Northern Israel by Old Ordnance Explosion

Approximately twelve people, including children, were injured by the explosion of old ordnance in an agricultural area near Matzpe Par in Kibbutz Yiftah, according to N12. The injured were part of a group of hikers that included teachers and students. Some of the victims sustained severe injuries from the blast, with most remaining conscious.

Emergency medical and rescue forces, including Magen David Adom helicopters, were dispatched to the scene to provide treatment and evacuate the injured. Magen David Adom Director-General Eli Bin stated that several individuals, including children, suffered severe injuries from explosives, and the source of the injury was unknown. He noted that extensive forces, including MDA helicopters, were called to the area.

Matzpe Par is located near Kibbutz Yiftah in the northern Galilee region, overlooking the Hula Valley and Kiryat Shmona, close to the Israeli-Lebanese border. Unexploded ordnance, such as shells, rockets, bombs, or mines, can remain dangerous for years, with their explosive material and detonation mechanisms potentially still active.

This incident follows several other cases in Israel over the past year where individuals were injured by unexploded ordnance. In August 2026, six agricultural workers were injured by a rocket remnant near Metula, two seriously. In February 2026, a child was killed and two others seriously injured while playing with IDF ordnance in an active firing range near Neve Tirtzah base in the Jordan Valley.

Unexploded ordnance can persist in open areas long after combat or training, particularly near border regions and military firing ranges. Their presence in agricultural fields, orchards, and near hiking trails poses a significant risk to hikers and workers, especially when the ordnance is unidentified or unmarked. The incident at Kibbutz Yiftah highlights the dangers of unexploded ordnance and ammunition remnants in open spaces. Hikers are advised to stay on marked trails, avoid firing ranges, and follow security directives. If suspicious objects are found, they should not be touched or moved; people should move away and immediately report to the police.