Education Ministry probes fatal blast, saying students may have strayed from approved route

The Education Ministry in Israel has denied approving a school trip through a restricted area following a deadly explosion from a Hezbollah ordnance on Monday. The incident occurred in northern Israel, resulting in the death of 14-year-old student Elazar Yair Wilensky and injuring over 20 others. KKL-JNF Chairman Eyal Austrinsky stated that the ministry's situation room should have been aware that the forest had been deemed unsafe.

Education Minister Yoav Kisch had previously confirmed that the trip and its route received the necessary approvals. In response to the explosion, the ministry announced that school trips to areas along the Israel-Lebanon border would be diverted to other locations. The Home Front Command also plans to enhance public information efforts about the dangers of unexploded ordnance through awareness campaigns and safety instructions.

Metula Mayor David Azulay criticized the decision to suspend hiking routes, expressing concern that it could harm tourism and daily life in the Galilee. He emphasized the importance of being alert and careful when hiking, warning against venturing off marked trails. Most of the unexploded ordnance, such as cluster munitions, contained multiple bomblets, with each potentially exploding, while others remained unexploded.