On Monday afternoon, 2026-10-12, a school hiking trip near Mitzpe Pe'er along Israel's northern border ended in tragedy when an explosion killed a 14‑year‑old boy and left approximately 24 other people injured, three of them seriously and one moderately. The victims were students and teachers from ORT Yeshiva High School in Ma'alot‑Tarshiha, who were on the first day of their annual hike on the Israel National Trail.
The blast took place close to the Lebanese border, in a stretch of terrain that had previously served as a staging ground for Israeli forces and had also been targeted by Hezbollah fire. The location’s history adds a layer of complexity to the immediate aftermath as investigators consider what might have lain hidden in the soil.
Israel teen dies on school hike, 20 injured, as ‘leftover’ bomb detonates https://t.co/P01qMdDA5o
Within minutes, emergency services flooded the area. Fourteen ambulances and three Israeli Air Force helicopters were dispatched, joined by Unit 669 search‑and‑rescue personnel, a battalion medical team, and Yahalom combat engineering bomb disposal specialists. Kiryat Shmona police station commander Elad Ben Lulu told reporters that the police received the report via the 100 emergency hotline around 3 p.m. and that “Every available rescue force arrived at the scene.”
Kiryat Shmona police station commander Elad Ben Lulu told reporters that the police received the report via the 100 emergency hotline around 3 p.
Police are focusing on whether one of the students found an explosive device, placed it in his bag, and inadvertently set it off while standing among his classmates.
The Israel Defense Forces is examining two lines of inquiry: whether the school trip had received the necessary authorization to pass through the area and whether proper military channels were cleared. Simultaneously, investigators are working to identify the type of unexploded munition, considering whether it was a cluster munition left behind by Israeli forces or fired by Hezbollah and remained unexploded.
As of 2026-10-12, the investigation continues, with police, the IDF, and other agencies piecing together the circumstances of the blast. The involved parties—ORT Yeshiva High School, Hezbollah, the IDF, and Israeli police—have been described as neutral in the available statements, reflecting the early stage of the fact‑finding process.