Unexploded Ordnance Poses Ongoing Threat Across Israel
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
A recent explosion in northern Israel killed a teenager and injured 19 others, highlighting the ongoing threat from unexploded ordnance. Thousands of hazardous areas remain, with minefields covering vast tracts of land, particularly in the north. Past incidents, including the deaths of children and soldiers, demonstrate the persistent danger. Despite clearance efforts, significant hazardous zones persist, and the Ministry of Defense warns citizens to avoid suspicious items.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A 15-year-old was killed and 19 injured by an explosive device in northern Israel.
- Thousands of hazardous areas with old mines and unexploded ordnance remain across Israel.
- The Northern Command alone had about 4,000 minefields covering 85,000 dunams in 2022.
- Past incidents include child fatalities and soldiers injured or killed by explosive devices.
- Experts warn that decades-old ordnance can remain highly explosive.
- The Ministry of Defense advises the public to avoid suspicious objects.
A recent incident in northern Israel, where a 15-year-old was killed and 19 others injured by an explosive device, has highlighted the persistent danger posed by old mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) across the country. Despite years of demining efforts, thousands of hazardous areas remain, threatening civilians and soldiers alike.
According to 2022 IDF data, the Northern Command alone contained approximately 4,000 minefields covering about 85,000 dunams. The danger is not limited to mines; old shells, grenades, and other UXO also pose a significant risk, particularly in areas near borders and former conflict zones, where they can remain active for decades.
Past incidents underscore the severity of the problem. In February 2010, five people were injured on the Golan Heights, including 11-year-old Daniel Yuval, who lost part of his leg. In May 2013, a 19-year-old soldier, Roi Israel Alfi, was killed on the southern Golan Heights while attempting to neutralize a mine. In April 2017, six-year-old Omer and ten-year-old Muhammad Abu-Kweider died near the Bedouin village of Segev Shalom after playing with an explosive device.
More recent events include seven soldiers wounded in the Jordan Valley in 2018 by a military vehicle hitting a mine, and two soldiers injured near the Lebanese border in March 2023 by an old mine explosion. A reservist, Liraz Zeira, suffered severe injuries, including double leg amputation, after stepping on an old mine in Syria.
The National Mine Clearance Authority has cleared about 9,000 dunams and removed approximately 200,000 mines since its inception. However, substantial hazardous areas persist in the Golan Heights, Jordan Valley, and the Arava. Experts warn that even decades-old ordnance can remain explosive, with minimal disturbance potentially causing detonation. The Ministry of Defense urges the public to avoid suspicious objects and never attempt to handle or disarm them.
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