Full coverage· Security· Updated 12:27

Israel's Education Ministry Lifts Tour Ban Near Lebanon Border After Fatal Blast

Israel's Ministry of Education has lifted a temporary ban on school excursions in the north and along the border with Lebanon, which was imposed on Monday following a fatal explosion. The decision to resume the trips on Thursday follows updated guidelines and security policy clarifications from the IDF and the Trip Coordination Bureau.

5 newsrooms · 2 languages · since 08:26

Plus

Israel's Education Ministry Lifts Tour Ban Near Lebanon Border After Fatal Blast — Illustration by baba

What happened

01The Ministry of Education lifted a temporary ban on school trips in northern Israel and near the Lebanese border on Thursday.
02A 13-year-old student, Elazar Yair Vilensky, was killed and 24 other students were injured during a hike organized by the Ma'alot Yeshiva.
03The IDF believes the fatal explosion was caused by an unexploded Hezbollah cluster munition that a student picked up.
04Minister of Education Yoav Kisch had suspended all hikes near the northern border on Monday immediately following the tragedy.
05An initial ministry review found the approved route met security guidelines, but a police and ministry investigation is checking if the group deviated.
06The investigation is ongoing as several trip leaders, including the guide, remain hospitalized with injuries from the blast.
07The Ministry of Education has ordered all schools nationwide to reinforce safety rules strictly prohibiting contact with unexploded ordnance.

The suspension was enacted by Minister of Education Yoav Kisch after a 13-year-old ninth-grade student, Elazar Yair Vilensky, was killed and 24 other students and a teacher were injured during a hike organized by the Ma'alot Yeshiva. The IDF assesses that the explosion was caused by an unexploded ordnance, likely a cluster munition sub-munition from a rocket fired by the terrorist organization Hezbollah, which detonated after a student picked it up.

While initial reviews indicate that the approved route met security requirements and did not include restricted areas, a comprehensive investigation by the ministry and the police is underway to determine if the group deviated from the path. The inquiry has been slowed because several trip leaders, including the guide, were injured and are still receiving medical treatment. In response to the incident, the ministry has ordered a nationwide reinforcement of safety protocols, strictly prohibiting any contact with ammunition, unexploded ordnance, or suspicious objects.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated 12:46

Latest report: Mignews. Read Mignews’s original