Israeli Politicsupdated 52m ago2 min read
Explosion Near Neot Mordechai Kills One, Injures 19 in Upper Galilee
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One killed and 19 injured in unexploded ordnance blast near Lebanon border during school trip. Investigations probe whether Hezbollah-laid ordnance caused the blast; IDF says preliminary assessment ongoing at scene.
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Explosion near Lebanon border
An explosion in northern Israel near the Lebanese border injured approximately 20 people, and Israel’s Magen David Adom said paramedics were treating “eight casualties in serious and moderate condition, as well as several additional casualties in mild condition.” Israeli police said the blast occurred near the community of Neot Mordechai, and bomb disposal experts investigated the circumstances and source of the explosion.
Israeli media reports also said one person was killed and 19 Israelis were injured in the Upper Galilee, with Channel 12 reporting that “one person was killed and 19 others were injured, 3 of them seriously.” The Israeli army dispatched helicopters to assist in evacuation operations, while the Office of the Prime Minister said Benjamin Netanyahu reviewed reports and stressed the need to care for the injured.
Cause disputed, investigations ongoing
Israeli police and emergency services treated the incident as an explosion whose nature had not yet been determined, while police and local media said initial indications suggested it involved unexploded ordnance. The Times of Israel news portal said the blast was believed to have been caused by “unexploded ordnance,” while authorities were still investigating the exact cause.
Channel 14 reported that initial investigations indicated that one of the students touched the explosive device and perhaps carried it in his bag before it exploded, and the head of police in Kiryat Shmona said they had not yet confirmed whether the blast was caused by a device or a missile warhead from past conflicts. The Israeli Ministry of Education confirmed that the area was open to strolling and that the path the hikers took was permitted for passage, even as the army and police continued to assess what happened.
Netanyahu, schools, and response
The incident involved students and teachers from a religious school on a trip near the northern border, and the Israeli army said it was dealing with a large incident given the number of injuries. Israel’s Magen David Adom said medics were treating “eight people injured with injuries ranging from serious to moderate, in addition to a number of people with minor injuries,” and it described the incident as complex.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut a live broadcast related to the elections via social media in response to the incident, and his office said he issued directives to evacuate the injured to hospitals and continued ongoing assessments. Israeli authorities said they were treating the blast as a “grave incident,” while the Israeli army announced the deployment of troops and military helicopters to assist in evacuation operations.