Approximately 20 people were casualties of an explosion Monday on Ramim Ridge in the Galilee Panhandle in northern Israel. One person was killed and two others were seriously injured.
The victims were part of a group of teachers and students on a field trip in the area who were apparently injured when an unexploded munition detonated. The IDF is investigating whether the unexploded munition was a Hezbollah cluster bomb.
According to the initial investigation, one of the hikers apparently found the unexploded munition and placed it in a backpack. The device detonated some time later, causing the tragedy.
The Education Ministry said in a statement: "This is an extremely serious incident, and our thoughts are with the victims and their families. The Education Ministry is currently working with security forces and all relevant professionals to provide support to the students, teaching staff and their families. We urge the public to act responsibly and refrain from spreading unverified information while the details of the incident are still being established."
A student at the religious high school who is in one of the grades that did not take part in the trip said: "We still don't have the full picture. We're in shock. It's a small school with fewer than 300 students in grades 7 through 12 and just 50 teachers, where everyone knows everyone. Apparently, some of the students went on the trip without their phones, and we're having trouble getting information."
