Students Entered Restricted Disaster Site in Upper Galilee Despite Warnings

Signs warning of danger and prohibiting entry to a disaster site in the Upper Galilee were ignored by students who entered the area through an alternative route lacking such warnings. The incident has raised questions about why the Ministry of Education approved the trip, given the existing safety concerns. The site, near Moshavah Park on the Ramim Ridge, had been marked with "Danger! Passage Forbidden!" signs by the Jewish National Fund (JNF) since May, citing war damage and ongoing restoration work. These signs also warned of the prohibition of passage and stay in the area due to hundreds of casualties recorded there over the past two years of conflict. Despite these explicit warnings at some entrances, the students accessed the area via a different entry point where no signs were posted. The Ministry of Education stated that the trip was approved as part of the Israel Trail program. The disaster occurred when a cluster bomb remnant, believed to have been fired by Hezbollah during the war, exploded. Initial investigations suggest a student found the item, collected it, and placed it in their bag, leading to the explosion. A 14-year-old boy was killed, and 24 others, including students and teachers from the ORT Ma'alot middle school, were injured. Three individuals remain in serious condition, ten in moderate, and the rest in light condition. Tamir Duadi, a local resident and former emergency squad commander, was among the first responders, describing the chaotic scene and his efforts to evacuate the wounded. He expressed his grief over the young age of the victims.