School trips in the north can resume

The Ministry of Education has announced that the suspension of school trips has ended, following clarification from the IDF that the policy for trips in northern Israel has not changed.

As of Thursday, October 15, 2026, schools can resume their full schedule of trips in the north, provided they follow the required procedures and receive the necessary approvals.

All trips must be approved by the Ministry of Education's Trip Coordination Office and follow the instructions of the Ministry's Trip Situation Room.

Safety instructions reinforced

Alongside the return of school trips, the Minister of Education has instructed the education system to review and reinforce its safety guidelines.

Special attention is being given to the dangers of unexploded ammunition, other ammunition and suspicious objects.

The Ministry stresses that it is strictly forbidden to touch unexploded ammunition, ammunition or suspicious objects. Anyone who finds a suspicious object must stay away from it and report it immediately to the relevant authorities.

What has the Ministry found following the incident involving Ma'alot Yeshiva?

Following a serious incident during a trip organized by Ma'alot Yeshiva, the Ministry of Education said its initial review found that the route coordinated and approved by the Trip Coordination Office met the requirements of the relevant authorities and did not include any sections that had been closed to travel.

The Ministry attached the trip approval and the approved route to its announcement.

However, the investigation into what happened has not yet been completed. One of the main questions being examined is the route the group actually took during the trip.

Some of the trip leaders who were in the field, including the guide leading the group, were injured. Some are still receiving medical treatment.

As a result, further checks are needed to establish exactly what happened. These checks will also take place as part of the Israel Police investigation.

A full review of the incident

Alongside the professional review being carried out by the Ministry of Education's Security Division and the police investigation, the Minister of Education has instructed the Ministry's Comptroller to conduct a full review of all aspects of the incident.

The Ministry has said that the findings will be shared with the public transparently as the reviews progress, subject to the restrictions of the ongoing investigation.

Condolences to the family and wishes for a full recovery

The Ministry of Education has once again expressed its deepest condolences to the family of Elazar Yair Vilensky, of blessed memory, and wishes all those injured a speedy and full recovery.

Important reminder: The return of school trips does not remove the requirement to coordinate and approve routes in advance. Trip organizers must follow the Ministry of Education's instructions and review all safety guidelines before setting out.

Source: Ministry of Education announcement, October 15, 2026.