Police Chief: Hikes Near Blast Site to Be Halted After Fatal Explosion

Police Commissioner Danny Levy conducted a situation assessment at the site of the severe explosion in the Upper Galilee, together with Northern District Commander Itzik Eliahu and senior commanders. During the assessment, the Commissioner was briefed on the current situation and the activities of police forces at the scene.

Levy praised the professional work of the officers and bomb technicians operating at the site, and instructed that investigations into the circumstances of the incident continue while maintaining public safety and keeping the area sealed until all necessary examinations are completed.

The hike had received approval from the Ministry of Education, which relied on IDF guidelines. In the situation assessment held at the scene, it was decided to halt hikes to the area in the coming days until the full picture of the incident is clarified.

An IDF spokesperson stated: "Following the explosion that occurred in northern Israel, a preliminary investigation by IDF forces at the location indicates that it was most likely a cluster bomb from the Hezbollah terror organization that remained in the area and detonated. The incident is still under investigation. IDF forces continue to scan and operate in the area."

IDF forces operating at the scene (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)

An update from Ziv Medical Center: "Ziv Medical Center in Tzfat has received 13 wounded from the Ramim Ridge incident so far, including: two in serious condition — one with head and limb injuries, currently undergoing imaging tests and expected to enter surgery afterward. The second seriously wounded patient is undergoing imaging tests. Three in moderate condition, with shrapnel wounds, their condition is stable. And eight in light condition."

Update from Ziv Hospital in Tzfat (Photo: Ziv Medical Center)

Six casualties from the northern hiking disaster were evacuated by helicopter to Galilee Medical Center: one seriously wounded patient was rushed to the operating room, three in moderate condition and two in light condition with shrapnel wounds and blast injuries. The wounded are receiving medical treatment from the teams.

Deputy Director of Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, Dr. Tzvi Sheleg (Photo: Galilee Medical Center)

The explosion occurred in an open area near Kibbutz Naot Mordechai in the Upper Galilee, a 15-year-old boy was pronounced dead, and approximately 23 others were wounded in varying degrees of severity, including three seriously and about ten lightly to moderately.

A preliminary investigation raises suspicion that one of the students placed the ordnance in his bag before it exploded. "It could have exploded on the bus," one source involved in the investigation was quoted as saying, referring to the severity of an incident that could have ended in a far greater disaster.

Rescue and medical forces were immediately dispatched to the scene, along with MDA and Air Force helicopters. MDA's Jordan Region Director, Itzik Shoshen, who was at the scene, recounted: "Upon receiving the report of an explosion in the field in the Upper Galilee Regional Council, we quickly departed for the scene with large forces of ambulances, intensive care units and an MDA helicopter that was also dispatched."

Meanwhile, police and the Ministry of Education are considering temporarily halting hikes in the north in the coming days following the terrible disaster. It should be noted that the hike that ended in disaster had received all required approvals from the Ministry of Education — which claims the hike was arranged according to guidelines received from the IDF.

The father of one of the students told Channel 12's "Today's Edition" that the hike was organized and approved. "I ask that prayers be dedicated to all the wounded," the father said, adding that the wounded are middle school and high school students.

"It could have exploded on the bus," one source involved in the investigation details was quoted as saying, referring to the severity of an incident that could have ended in a far greater disaster. In the incident, a 15-year-old boy was pronounced dead, and approximately 19 others were wounded in varying degrees of severity.

MDA's Jordan Region Director, Itzik Shoshen, who was at the scene, recounted minutes after the incident: "Upon receiving the report of an explosion in the field in the Upper Galilee Regional Council, we quickly departed for the scene with large forces of ambulances, intensive care units and an MDA helicopter that was also dispatched."

Shoshen described the situation at the scene: "When we arrived at the location, we saw a number of wounded in varying degrees of severity. We immediately began providing medical treatment at the scene to eight seriously and moderately wounded, and to additional lightly wounded. This is a complex incident, we continue to provide medical treatment to the wounded at the site and evacuate them quickly to the hospital."

The scene was immediately defined as a mass-casualty incident, and extensive rescue and medical forces were dispatched to the location. Three Air Force helicopters were dispatched to evacuate the wounded, alongside MDA helicopters, in a race against time to extract the casualties and urgently evacuate them to hospitals.

The Prime Minister's Office stated shortly after the incident: "Prime Minister Netanyahu was updated on the details of the severe incident in the north and spoke with MDA Director-General Eli Bin, with Education Minister Yoav Kisch and with his military secretary. The Prime Minister requested to ensure that the wounded are being evacuated as quickly as possible to hospitals and continues to hold ongoing situation assessments."