Student's Death Highlights Disputed Responsibility for Unexploded Ordnance Cleanup

The incident has exposed a dispute over cleanup responsibility between the Defense Ministry and the police. While the law designates the Defense Ministry's National Mine Action Authority as responsible for clearing unexploded ordnance, the ministry asserts that the authority is not responsible for ordnance resulting from enemy fire, which it claims falls under police jurisdiction. Conversely, the authority's website states its activities include detecting and destroying explosive ammunition found in combat areas.

The school trip, involving students from the Ma'alot religious high school, had received all necessary approvals, but reports indicate the specific trail segment where the explosion occurred was prohibited for hiking. The Ministry of Education has launched an investigation to determine how the students accessed the prohibited area. In response to the tragedy, planned school trips in northern Israel have been canceled, and public awareness campaigns regarding the dangers of unexploded ordnance are being intensified.