World · Middle East · 1 hr ago
13-year-old killed by unexploded ordnance during school hike near Lebanon border
Thirteen-year-old Elazar Yair Wilensky was killed when ordnance exploded during a school hike in northern Israel near the Lebanon border.
He was among students and teachers from ORT Ma’alot school hiking in the Ramim Ridge area on a three-day trip.
The ordnance was believed to be an unexploded submunition from a Hezbollah rocket launched during the recent war; such explosives can remain dangerous after landing.
The blast also injured children and adults, with five children in serious condition as of Tuesday morning.
The route had been approved despite a warning sign announcing a ban on entering forests and campsites because of war damage.
Authorities are investigating how the route was approved, and the Education Ministry has asked the Israeli military to check trails along the border for more ordnance.
A 13-year-old student was killed when unexploded ordnance detonated during a school hike near Israel’s border with Lebanon.
The student was identified as Elazar Yair Wilensky, a ninth grader from ORT Ma’alot school.
The blast occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Monday, October 12, in the Ramim Ridge area.
Five children were in serious condition as of Tuesday morning, and other students and adults were also injured.
Authorities are investigating how the hike route was approved and asked the military to check trails along the border for further ordnance.
- Who
- Elazar Yair Wilensky, 13, was killed. Students and teachers from ORT Ma’alot were on the hike.
- What
- An explosion of unexploded ordnance killed Wilensky and injured others.
- When
- Around 3:30 p.m. on Monday, October 12, 2026.
- Where
- The Naftali Mountains Forest scenic route in the Ramim Ridge area, near Israel’s border with Lebanon.
- Why
- The group encountered unexploded ordnance. The articles say Hezbollah rockets had spread submunitions over wide areas during the recent war.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Hezbollah launched Grad rockets containing submunitions at northern Israel, some of which did not explode on impact.
KKL-JNF entered the forest to begin rehabilitation work, according to its chairman.
The ordnance exploded as students and teachers hiked in the Ramim Ridge area.
Five children were reported in serious condition.
- Victim
- Elazar Yair Wilensky, 13
- School
- ORT Ma’alot
- Location
- Ramim Ridge area, near Lebanon
- Blast time
- Around 3:30 p.m. on October 12, 2026
- Serious condition
- Five children as of Tuesday morning
What people are saying
smart, wise and full of joy for life. A loving and good friend, whose whole life was ahead of him.
I don’t understand why the Education Ministry had approved the route for the hike.
Sources
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