The Discovery
In an incredible stroke of luck, students playing outside a school in Kfar Saba stumbled upon a round, aged object resembling a weapon while digging deep in a sandbox. Upon inspection, it was revealed to be an old shell that had been buried beneath the playground for many years. Remarkably, children had unknowingly played above a potential minefield for decades.
Israeli police bomb disposal experts were called to the scene, promptly sealing off the area. The bomb squad safely neutralized and removed the old shell, ensuring the children and staff were out of harm’s way.
The Danger: Weapons Near Children
The danger posed by leftover weapons near children is a global concern. Accidents involving unexploded ordnance are one of the leading causes of preventable fatalities among children, prompting widespread international efforts to clear such hazards. For instance, cluster munitions have been banned in much of the world due to their long-lasting risks.
Despite these efforts, incidents like this show that the danger is far from eliminated. The shell may have been left over from battles in Kfar Saba during World War I, the Israeli War of Independence, or even the lead-up to the Six-Day War. Alternatively, it could have been buried more recently.
Similar Incidents
This incident follows a similar event several weeks ago when children playing in a residential yard discovered a hidden handgun, believed to have been stashed for criminal purposes. The weapon was handed over to police from the I’ron police station (between Hadera and Afula) and transferred to a forensic lab for further investigation to track its origins.
