Explosion in northern Israel kills one and injures around 20 others

An explosion in northern Israel has killed a 15-year-old and injured around 20 others during a hiking trip organised by a religious school. Israeli authorities say preliminary findings suggest the blast was caused by unexploded ordnance, possibly after a student picked up or handled the device. The area had previously been declared safe for civilian access by Israeli authorities, raising questions about how the explosive device remained undetected. An investigation is underway, but officials have yet to establish exactly what happened. The explosion occurred near the border with Lebanon, where years of fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah have left extensive damage and unexploded munitions. There have been no reports of renewed attacks from Lebanon in recent days, suggesting the device may have been left behind during earlier hostilities. The incident comes as Israel prepares for parliamentary elections on October 27, with questions about security and military oversight likely to attract political attention. Al Jazeera's Nour Odeh reports from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://X.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.news/AJEMobile #Israel #NorthernIsrael #IsraelExplosion #UnexplodedOrdnance #UnexplodedMunitions #IsraelLebanonBorder #Lebanon #Hezbollah #NeotMordechai #KiryatShmona