Water running in Nahal Og in the Judean desert, January 16, 2022
Water running in Nahal Og in the Judean desert, January 16, 2022Yossi Zamir/Flash90

42 Israeli schoolchildren were declared missing Monday, prompting police to launch search operations in the Judean Desert.

The children, from grades five through eight, went missing after they lost their way during a field trip to the Nahal Og area of the Judean Desert.

Several hours later, the students were evacuated from the Nahal Og stream.

A police search and rescue team, armed with drone surveillance aircraft, was deployed to the area, and was joined in the searches by local volunteers.

Drone image of some of the children
Drone image of some of the childrenPhoto: Israel Police Spokesperson