Palestinian children killed in West Bank accident

JTA

JERUSALEM — At least eight Palestinian schoolchildren on a field trip were killed when a truck collided with their bus on a rain-soaked road in the West Bank.

Dozens of elementary school age children, who were headed from eastern Jerusalem for Ramallah, were also injured in the attack. The students were taken to Palestinian hospitals in Ramallah, and Israeli hospitals including Hadassah Hospital on Mt. Scopus and Beilinson Children’s Hospital in Petah Tikvah. One of the dead reportedly is a teacher.

The Israeli-Arab driver reportedly lost control of his truck in the bad weather. The impact caused the bus to flip over and burst into flames.

Israel and Palestinian emergency services cooperated at the scene, while Israeli and Palestinian security police are cooperating in investigating the accident, according to reports.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning following the tragedy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his sorrow at the tragedy and offered the Palestinian Authority any assistance needed.