The US Embassy in Israel issued a safety warning to American citizens on Tuesday about unexploded ordnance and munitions found across extensive areas of Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, a day after a teenager was killed and 24 people were injured in an explosion during a school trip in northern Israel.
The warning followed the death of Elazar Yair Wilensky, who was killed when unexploded Hezbollah ammunition detonated during the school trip.
In its statement, the embassy warned that the danger was particularly great near border areas and that, in many cases, the locations of unexploded ordnance are unmarked, and the devices may be difficult to identify.
"Rain, flooding, agricultural work, and construction activities frequently bring buried munitions to the surface, making them more unstable," the embassy said.
The embassy stressed that unexploded ordnance can come in various shapes and sizes, including artillery shells, mortar bombs, rockets, grenades, landmines, and cluster munitions.
It warned particularly about small, round cluster bomblets, which may resemble balls or toys and attract children's attention.
"Assume that any unidentified object is dangerous," the statement said.
Embassy emphasizes three-step safety rule: Recognize, retreat, report
The embassy emphasized a three-step safety rule in its guidelines: recognize, retreat, and report.
Anyone who identifies a suspicious object should stop immediately and avoid approaching it to investigate. Instead, they should carefully retreat along the same route they used to reach the area, keep others away, particularly children, and report the object to Israel Police by calling 100.
The embassy also warned against physically touching unexploded ordnance, throwing objects at it, or using mobile phones and two-way radios nearby.
It further recommended against collecting ammunition casings, shell fragments, or war souvenirs, even if the items have reportedly been neutralized and are considered safe.
The embassy urged the public to avoid entering areas marked as minefields or contaminated by unexploded ordnance, and to remain on paved roads and familiar trails when hiking outside urban areas.
It also called on parents to explain to children that they must never touch unidentified metal objects and should immediately report any such discoveries to an adult.
In addition, the embassy recommended identifying the location of the nearest protected space, using Home Front Command warning applications, and keeping up to date with security guidance issued by the US State Department.