Unexploded Ordnance Found After Deadly School Trip Incident in Northern Israel

Following a serious incident during a school trip near Ramim Ridge, where students were injured by an unexploded ordnance, further searches in the area have uncovered additional cluster bomb remnants. The area along the Ramot Naftali road has been closed by Division 91, and authorities anticipate finding more unexploded ordnance in the coming days and weeks. Students who were not injured reported encountering multiple unexploded items during the trip, with some possibly placed in their backpacks. Explosive ordnance disposal technicians subsequently searched the students' bags for any remaining explosive materials, though none were found. Initial investigations suggest the device that detonated may have been picked up by a student about an hour before the incident. Photos taken shortly before the explosion show the ordnance that was collected. These cluster bombs, which are similar to those found throughout northern Israel during the war, contain approximately 40 grams of explosive material but can cause significant damage due to their design. The student who was injured reportedly left the marked trail to retrieve the ordnance from a nearby grove. The group continued their trip, and the device detonated later as they sat in a circle, causing multiple casualties. According to student testimonies, the educational staff did not brief them on the potential presence of unexploded ordnance along the route. The IDF estimates that thousands of unexploded items may remain in northern Israel's territories following three years of conflict and Hezbollah rocket fire. The current searches aim to locate these remnants and reduce risks to hikers and residents. The responsibility for locating and handling unexploded enemy ordnance in civilian areas typically falls to the police, with the Nature and Parks Authority involved in nature reserves and the Jewish National Fund (JNF) in forests and groves. In the coming days, relevant authorities will map and scan open areas in the north, classifying them by risk level to determine which can be reopened for public access. Further trips to the affected areas have been temporarily suspended. Questions have also arisen regarding the approval of the trip, as the Ministry of Education sanctioned the route, while the JNF had posted warning signs since May indicating the area was dangerous and closed. The public is also urged to exercise caution, avoid touching suspicious objects, and stay on marked trails.