Teen Identified as Victim of Hezbollah Ordnance Explosion in Northern Israel

Elazar Yair Wilensky, 14, was identified as the student killed on Monday when an unexploded munition detonated during a school trip in northern Israel.

The explosion occurred in the Ramim Ridge area, near the Lebanese border. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated an initial review indicated the explosion was caused by an unexploded Hezbollah munition. Deputy Police Commissioner Meir Eliyahu said the suspicion was that an unexploded munition exploded in the hands of one of the students. United Hatzalah reported three people sustained serious injuries, and at least 10 others suffered light-to-moderate injuries.

Initial reports stated 24 teachers and students were wounded, with one critically injured and pronounced dead, two seriously injured, 10 moderately wounded, and 12 lightly injured. The students and staff were from ORT Ma’alot High School's yeshiva program on their annual trip. A medical evacuation helicopter was dispatched to the scene. Wilensky was the youngest of five siblings, described by his family as a boy who loved life.

Smart and intelligent, full of joy, a good and beloved friend. The Ma’alot-Tarshiha municipality expressed grief and stated welfare teams and educational psychological services are providing emotional support. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s education minister visited the wounded and their families at Rambam Hospital in Haifa on Monday evening. Netanyahu instructed the IDF to reinforce prohibitions against touching unexploded ordnance. The incident occurred near the villages of Yiftah and Manara. The army is investigating whether the munition came from Hezbollah or Israeli forces.