How Did 1 Student Die and 19 Get Injured in an Explosion During a School Trip in Northern Israel?

Quick answer: One student was killed and 19 people were injured, two of them critically, when an explosive device detonated near a group of students and teachers hiking by the Peer lookout on the northern Ramim ridge in Israel on 12 October 2026. The military's initial investigation points to an unexploded submunition from a rocket fired by Hezbollah.

Key facts

• What: Explosion of suspected unexploded ordnance
• Where: Near the Peer lookout, northern Ramim ridge, adjacent to the Lebanese border, northern Israel
• When: 12 October 2026 (local time)
• Reported toll: 1 student killed, 19 injured — 2 in critical condition
• Status: developing — figures may change

What happened

A group of students and teachers on a school trip was hiking near the Peer lookout on the northern Ramim ridge, close to the Lebanese border, when an explosive device detonated in their vicinity. Israel's emergency medical service, Magen David Adom, reported the blast on 12 October.

One student lost their life in the explosion. Nineteen people were injured, including two who are in critical condition. The military dispatched three air force helicopters with medical crews to the scene, and the injured were airlifted to hospitals.

What investigators believe caused the blast

Local police believe unexploded ordnance left behind in the area detonated. According to the military's initial investigation, the device was a submunition — a small explosive bomblet — from a rocket fired by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

Investigators believe one of the hiking students picked up the unexploded submunition and placed it inside their backpack. The explosion then occurred inside the backpack.

Emergency response

The military sent explosive-ordnance-disposal specialists from Yahalom, its elite combat engineering unit, to the site to search the surrounding area for any additional unexploded ordnance. Three air force helicopters worked with medical teams to evacuate the injured to hospital.

Frequently asked questions

Where did the explosion happen?

Near the Peer lookout on the northern Ramim ridge in northern Israel, an area adjacent to the Lebanese border. The victims were students and teachers on a school trip who were hiking in the area.

How many people were killed or injured?

One student was killed and 19 people were injured. Two of the injured are in critical condition, according to Israel's emergency medical service.

What caused the explosion?

The exact sequence is still under investigation, but the military's initial findings point to an unexploded submunition from a rocket fired by Hezbollah. A student is believed to have picked up the device and put it in their backpack, where it then exploded.

What is being done to prevent further blasts?

Explosive-ordnance-disposal teams from the military's Yahalom unit were sent to search the area for any other unexploded devices.