Fires rage around Jerusalem as Israel calls for international assistance

Appeal for firefighting aircraft as Netanyahu warns that flames could 'easily' reach city

Firefighters in Israel are battling what authorities said might be the largest wildfire in the country's history, which has so far forced the evacuation of seven communities and burnt nearly 2,500 hectares of land.

Dozens have been injured in the blazes which began on Wednesday morning and are concentrated in the hills surrounding Jerusalem. Some drivers who were forced to abandon their cars on motorways were among the injured.

All roads have been reopened and authorities allowed evacuated residents to return late on Thursday morning, but firefighters say the situation is still not under control.

“We are amid a very large wildfire, maybe the largest there has ever been in this country,” said Shmulik Friedman, the commander in charge of firefighting in the Jerusalem area.

“Our activity will continue for a very long time. We are far from having control.”

By Thursday afternoon, 76 fire and rescue teams were operating in five areas. At least 10 firefighting aircraft were involved. Authorities said that a Cypriot helicopter had arrived to join firefighting operations in the Jerusalem Mountains area, and that a total of eight aircraft were expected to arrive from Cyprus and Italy on Thursday.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on X that he had spoken to the foreign ministers of Argentina, Spain and the UK, among others, about providing aircraft to help fight the fires. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed “full solidarity with the Israeli people facing terrible fires” and said Paris was ready to provide assistance “in the coming hours”.

President Isaac Herzog said the wildfires were in part the result of climate change. Intense, dry heat and high winds have also been blamed. A number of events for Israel’s Independence Day have been cancelled. Authorities have banned people from visiting parks and forests, and from lighting fires in public places.

An aircraft drops flame retardant near the central Israeli town of Bet Shemesh. AFP

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the fires could “easily” reach the outskirts of Jerusalem or even the city itself.

Speaking at an event in Jerusalem later on Thursday, Mr Netanyahu said 18 people had been arrested on suspicion of arson. Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that only three people had been arrested in connection with the possible lighting of fires.

Authorities are yet to determine the cause of the fires.

On Wednesday evening, Israel’s police arrested a 50-year-old resident of East Jerusalem on suspicion of attempted arson. Police said he was found with a lighter and flammable materials.

The Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the occupied West Bank, offered to help in the firefighting effort, as has happened in previous instances. Many of the affected areas border Palestinian territory, where an Israeli military presence and a lack of resources could hamper any emergency response.

Mr Friedman on Thursday voiced concerns that “the winds will strengthen and the fire will return”.

“We will need to continue working at least until Saturday,” he said.

Fire and Rescue commissioner Eyal Caspi said on Wednesday evening that the firefighting effort was hampered by the weather, which stopped planes from being used at first.

“Humidity is extremely low. We invested tremendous efforts in the Latrun fire and several firefighters were injured,” he added.

Monks forced to flee

Brother Daniel from the Latrun Monastery told The National that his community was forced to flee on Wednesday afternoon to a nearby monastery in Abu Gosh and to Jerusalem.

Normally, the Catholic monks spend most of the day in strict silence and make a living from selling olive oil, wine and other products.

“Thank God our buildings were not affected, but our olive groves have been partly burnt, our vineyards a bit as well. We can replant and replace all this, the most important is that we are able to continue to our vocations here,” said Brother Daniel.

“The most difficult thing was seeing property we invested a lot of time in being burnt, but it’s what God decreed. What is touching is seeing how many people are supporting us, calling us, offering us help.

“It shows us that we need to stay loyal to this place and our vocation,” he added.

“From what I can remember, we once had a fire in the cellar but that must have been some 30 years ago. This is the first time fire has really affected our property.”