Israeli Teens Found, Carried Live Ordnance for Over an Hour Before Fatal Explosion

Students from the ORT religious school in Ma'alot, who were injured in an ordnance explosion during a trip in northern Israel, recounted finding dangerous items on a tourist route and carrying the "deadly find" for over an hour without realizing the threat. The incident occurred during a three-day hike along the "Israel Trail" where the teenagers discovered several munitions, including two rockets, according to "Walla News." Some of the items were picked up by the students, who claim they were not instructed on how to handle munitions or why they should not be touched before the hike. The explosion took place during a breakfast stop near Mitzpe Par, a viewpoint on the Ramim ridge. A 14-year-old student was killed, and 23 others were injured: three critically, ten in serious condition, and ten with light injuries. The wounded were transported to hospitals in Nahariya, Safed, and Haifa. Despite their severe injuries, the teenagers assisted each other at the scene, with one attempting to resuscitate a wounded friend and another using a video call to ask his father how to apply a tourniquet to a leg bleeding from shrapnel wounds. Six of the injured were taken to the Galilee Medical Center. Dr. Nadav Slifer, head of the pediatric surgery department, stated that the teenagers sustained injuries from the blast wave and shrapnel. He noted that while the patients' conditions have stabilized and the immediate danger has passed, some will require several days of treatment. Slifer emphasized that cluster munitions, though small, possess significant destructive power, and even small fragments can cause deep tissue damage and harm vital organs. Investigations are now underway to determine how the munition ended up on the popular tourist route and whether school excursion protocols were followed. The hike was reportedly coordinated between the school, the Ministry of Education, and the Northern Command. However, students maintain they did not see a warning sign prohibiting entry into the dangerous area near their stop. The IDF is responsible for inspecting and clearing areas open to the public and issuing permits for routes near the border. The military is investigating whether the munition was left from prior IDF operations or was fired by Hezbollah and failed to detonate. The Home Front Command reminded the public that suspicious ordnance should not be touched, moved, or examined, but rather a safe distance should be maintained and authorities immediately notified.