Sister Recounts Horror of Learning Brother Died in Ordnance Blast

Ayana, who was on her honeymoon in Indonesia, learned of her younger brother Yair's death in a field ordnance explosion during a school trip. Yair, 13, was a student at the Orot Ma'alot Technological High School and was participating in a trip to the Ramim Ridge when the incident occurred. Ayana recounted the agonizing wait for news, initially believing the reported fatality was a 15-year-old, not her 13-year-old brother.

She described hearing her mother's scream over the phone, realizing the devastating news. Her journey back to Israel involved three flights and was filled with grief and disbelief. Yair was laid to rest on Wednesday in the Hosen cemetery, attended by hundreds of family and friends.

Yair, the youngest of five siblings, was remembered as a vibrant and energetic child, excelling as Israel's fencing champion. He was also described as curious, with a love for nature and collecting fossils and stones, having built a personal space in a wadi near his home.

The explosion killed Yair and injured 24 other students and staff. Initial reports suggest a student may have picked up a piece of ordnance that later detonated in a backpack. Ayana expressed questions about the chosen route for the trip, stating the area was known to be littered with ordnance, and called for thorough pre-trip safety checks.

The Ministry of Education stated the trip was approved according to procedures and that safety instructions were provided. Despite the tragedy, Ayana encouraged children to continue exploring nature, especially in northern Israel, but emphasized the need for controlled trips with proper safety briefings.