Israeli School Trip Tragedy: Unexploded Ordnance Kills Student, Injures 24

An investigation is underway into the death of a student and injuries to 24 others during a school trip on the Ramim Ridge near the Lebanese border on October 12. The incident occurred when an unexploded ordnance detonated, with survivors claiming they were not warned of the danger. The group, comprised of seventh to ninth graders from ORT-Ma'alot religious high school, was on an annual hike along the Israel Trail when the explosion happened near the Mitzpe-Peer lookout point, close to Kibbutz Iftah.

Preliminary findings suggest a student found a small metal object, placed it in his backpack, and the explosion occurred later during a rest stop. A 14-year-old student, Eitan Masori, who was injured, recounted to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a fellow student had been "unscrewing the threaded part" of the object when it detonated, sending students flying. Masori described how students immediately began helping the injured.

A key question in the investigation is whether the students were adequately warned. Some participants told N12 that teachers did not inform them about the possibility of encountering unexploded ordnance. Minister of Education Yoav Kisch stated that a warning was supposed to be part of the pre-trip briefing and that initial checks showed no procedural violations, with the route approved by the ministry's situation center according to IDF guidelines. However, it remains unclear what specific instructions were given and if the children were made aware of the lethal danger.

The Ministry of Education's situation center confirmed the route was officially approved, adhering to IDF directives. The IDF is investigating whether the specific area of the tragedy was cleared for passage and met safety requirements. A warning sign at the entrance to the Naftali Forest, prohibiting entry due to war consequences, was bypassed by the students who entered from another side where no such sign was posted. KKL representatives are questioning why the route was approved despite such warnings.

Following the explosion, IDF sappers discovered additional unexploded cluster submunitions nearby. Some students reportedly told investigators they had seen similar objects during the hike. The IDF believes the detonated ordnance was likely a cluster submunition fired by Hezbollah during the war, and sappers from the elite "Yad Lom" unit were dispatched to the scene. The 91st Division has since closed the dangerous area.

In response, Minister Kisch ordered a 48-hour suspension of school trips in border areas and the northern Golan Heights, effective October 13-14. Existing groups were instructed to leave these routes and arrange alternatives. Schools nationwide have been reminded of safety protocols for handling unexploded ordnance. Police and the IDF continue their investigation into the circumstances, including why the dangerous area was accessible and who was responsible for student safety briefings.