Questions Arise After Fatal Unexploded Ordnance Incident in Northern Israel

A tragic incident in northern Israel, where a 15-year-old boy was killed and approximately 20 others were injured by an unexploded ordnance (UXO) during a school trip near Mitzpe Pe'er, has raised serious questions about safety protocols for public spaces near the Lebanese border. The event occurred on a popular section of the Israel National Trail, which, along with surrounding areas like Kiryat Shmona and Metula, experienced heavy Hezbollah shelling during three years of conflict.

Authorities are now tasked with determining whether the area where the explosion happened was thoroughly cleared of UXO before being reopened to hikers. While the Nature and Parks Authority announced trail mapping and safety checks after the initial ceasefire in late 2024, and the IDF reported clearing UXO from over 40 northern communities, it remains unclear if this specific site was inspected, when the last check occurred, and by whom. Similar uncertainty surrounds the full length of the first section of the Israel National Trail.

Further investigation is required into the school trip's adherence to Ministry of Education regulations, including whether the route was approved, if students stayed on marked paths, and if they received adequate safety briefings. These briefings typically cover instructions not to deviate from the path, avoid touching suspicious objects, and to report any findings immediately.

The responsibility for UXO clearance is shared among the IDF, police, and the Ministry of Defense's Mine and UXO Removal Authority, with the Nature and Parks Authority and KKL-JNF managing recreational areas. The law allows the Defense Minister to order assistance in clearing UXO from open areas affected by enemy fire. Questions persist about whether this authority was invoked in the north, who coordinated information on ordnance, and who approved the reopening of these areas.

Finding UXO in open areas is challenging, as they can remain hidden in the ground or vegetation. The explosive device is suspected to be a submunition from a cluster bomb fired by Hezbollah, which failed to detonate during the war and was triggered during the trip. While KKL-JNF and the Nature and Parks Authority publish information on open and closed trails, a consolidated list detailing which trails were cleared, when, and to what extent, has not been made public, leaving hikers unable to ascertain the clearance status of specific routes.

Past state comptroller reports from 2017 and 2021 have highlighted deficiencies in UXO clearance mechanisms, particularly for areas intended for civilian use and training grounds. In May 2025, State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman warned of negligence in clearing military industry complexes and handling hazardous materials, including explosives, stating, "Explosives have already claimed lives. The writing is on the wall, we must not wait for the next disaster." However, these reports focused on industrial sites rather than UXO in open combat zones.

While approved trails are generally considered safe for hiking, the presence of UXO cannot be entirely ruled out after three years of conflict. Hikers are advised to confirm trail status, heed warnings, stay on marked paths, and report any suspicious objects to emergency services without touching them.