Survivor Recounts Harrowing Explosion in Galilee That Injured Over Half Present

A father whose son survived a deadly explosion in the Ramim Ridge area of the Galilee recounted the terrifying moments after a group of students on a school trip encountered a dangerous object. "More than half of those who were there were injured," said Galil, father of a student who was near the blast. He described how the students initially thought a gas balloon had exploded, but soon realized a much stronger blast had occurred. His son witnessed a fellow student, Elazar Yair Wilensky, who was killed, fall to the ground, and a teacher critically injured.

The students, who were on the first outing of a year-long project to hike along the Israel Trail, began tending to each other's wounds. Galil's son narrowly escaped serious injury because he was sitting behind a tree during the prayer service. He described seeing bleeding students and the efforts they made to help one another.

Galil believes the students did not understand they had found an explosive device, suggesting they likely mistook it for a souvenir or a piece of shrapnel. He explained that children growing up in conflict zones, like his son who lives on the confrontation line, and others from nearby areas who have experienced rocket attacks, might seek a physical memento of their experiences. He speculated they might have thought it was a piece of pipe or shrapnel.

Some students with minor injuries have returned to classes to help process the trauma. The explosion tragically ended what was meant to be a beautiful and special project initiated by the school. Galil emphasized that the attack targeted Jewish children hiking in Israel and stressed the importance of not succumbing to terror, while reiterating warnings about unexploded ordnance.

The incident occurred during the first outing of a special year-long project by the school, which was intended to be a hike along the Israel Trail. The event tragically transformed into a painful incident of death.