The mass casualty event reportedly occurred between Kibbutz Manara and Kibbutz Yiftah in northern Israel (Photo: Al Jazeera).
An annual school trip turned deadly in Israel on Monday after Hezbollah military equipment kept in a student’s bag detonated, killing one and wounding at least 24, including schoolchildren.The “mass casualty” event reportedly occurred between Kibbutz Manara and Kibbutz Yiftah in northern Israel. Victims included students and staff members from the ORT Ma'alot Yeshiva High School.According to Army Radio, quoted by the Jerusalem Post, the IDF identified the explosive device as a Hezbollah cluster munition that had landed in the area, with a student finding it and picking it up during a break.According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was briefed on the incident and was continuously assessing the situation.The Education Ministry said it was working "in cooperation with the security forces... to provide answers to the students, the education staff, and their families.""We ask that everyone act responsibly and avoid spreading unverified information, while the details of the event are still being clarified," the ministry added.Israeli soldiers were later dispatched to the scene to provide assistance, while the military launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
Israel Police urged people to stay away from the area and report any suspected unexploded ordnance or suspicious objects.An operations centre staffed by social workers and psychologists was established in the area "to provide care for the students", Ma'alot Mayor Moti Ben-David told Army Radio later on Monday.A bus was also sent to collect students at the scene who had not been injured.