Students Entered Disaster Site Despite 'Danger, Entry Forbidden' Signs

Despite prominent signs warning of danger and prohibiting entry, students accessed a disaster site in the Upper Galilee through an unmarked entrance, leading to a severe incident. The signs, posted by the Jewish National Fund (JNF) since May, explicitly stated that passage and remaining in the area were forbidden due to war damage and ongoing restoration work. One sign read, "Danger! Entry Forbidden!" The JNF is investigating why the Ministry of Education approved the route for a trip, given the existing warnings. The students entered via a different path where no warning signs were placed, and no barrier prevented access. The Ministry of Education stated that the trip was approved as part of the Israel Trail.

The incident resulted in the death of a 14-year-old boy and injuries to 24 others, including students and teachers from the ORT Ma'alot middle school. Three individuals are in serious condition, ten in moderate, and the rest in light condition. An initial IDF investigation suggests the explosive device was a cluster munition dropped by Hezbollah during the war. The suspected cause of the explosion is that a student found the item, collected it, and placed it in his bag, leading to the detonation.

Tamir Daadi, a resident of Menara and former commander of the local emergency squad, was among the first responders. He described arriving at the scene and assisting in the evacuation of the injured, coordinating with emergency services. Daadi recounted the difficult efforts to evacuate the approximately 15 to 20 injured students, noting the challenges posed by military traffic on the access route. He expressed his sorrow over the young age of the victims, describing the harrowing experience of treating children who were helping each other.