Bnei Akiva Releases Video of Teen Killed in Unexploded Ordnance Blast

Two days after his death in an unexploded ordnance blast during a school trip in northern Israel, the Bnei Akiva youth movement released a video of 14-year-old Elazar Yair Wilensky from Ma'alot. The video, filmed about a month prior at the movement's summer camp, shows Wilensky smiling and discussing the unity and bonding among participants from across the country. He introduced himself as Yair from Ma'alot, from the "Ha'R"a camp," and spoke about the "connectedness and cohesion" he experienced. He concluded the clip with a smile and the rallying cry, "Yalla Beitar."

Bnei Akiva shared the video in his memory, stating, "May Yair's words illuminate and live within us, and may each of us have the strength to contribute our part to the cohesion of the tribe and the strengthening of camaraderie and friendship among us."

Wilensky, a student at Ort Ma'alot high school and the youngest of five siblings, died on Monday during a trip with his classmates in the Mitzpe Ram area of the Upper Galilee. The explosion occurred when a piece of ordnance, suspected to be cluster munition from previous fighting with Hezbollah, detonated in the field. The blast killed Wilensky and injured 24 others: four seriously, seven moderately, and 13 lightly.

Large teams from Magen David Adom, police, and the IDF responded to the difficult-to-access mountainous terrain. Helicopters were used to evacuate the wounded to hospitals. Witnesses described scenes of panic after the explosion, with injured students attempting to aid their peers, control bleeding, and provide first aid until rescuers arrived. Among those who assisted was 15-year-old Yair Frankental, an MDA youth volunteer, who, despite shrapnel wounds to his leg and shoulder, provided medical care and performed CPR on a fellow student.

The tragedy has raised questions about the approval of the trip's route and the danger posed by unexploded ordnance in northern open areas following the conflict. Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael stated the route was closed due to war damage and that responsible parties were notified. However, the Ministry of Education clarified that the approved route did not pass through the closed section and that relevant guidelines were included in the approval given to the educational institution. The circumstances of the explosion and the trip's approvals are under investigation.