Fires around Jerusalem West Bank largely contained
Wildfires that spread around Jerusalem and in areas under Palestinian control in the occupied West Bank have been mostly contained, the Israeli Fire and Rescue Authority said on Friday.
The blazes broke out on Wednesday near the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv motorway and in some mountain areas in the West Bank, prompting the Israeli police to close roads and evacuate thousands.
More than 160 firefighting ground crews and 12 aircraft were working to contain the wildfires.
Several major roads have reopened after firefighting teams managed to get many of the bushfires under control. Hot and dry conditions with strong winds had posed a serious challenge for firefighters.
There were warnings that the fires could flare up again, as firefighting teams were still tackling lingering hotspots.
At least 12 people have been treated for smoke inhalation, Israel's ambulance service said. Israeli broadcaster Kan said 17 firefighters were injured as they attempted to contain the flames.
"All routes have been reopened to traffic," the Israeli police said in a statement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declared an emergency in response to the fires, and hundreds of people fled their homes.
Countries including France, Italy and Spain had sent aircraft to assist in the emergency.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the fires were 'part of the climate change crisis, which must not be ignored'.
However, the cause of the fires has yet to be determined. Mr Netanyahu blamed it on arson and said 18 people had been arrested in connection with the wildfires, but the police denied the arrests.
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The National
02-05-2025
- The National
Fires around Jerusalem West Bank largely contained
Wildfires that spread around Jerusalem and in areas under Palestinian control in the occupied West Bank have been mostly contained, the Israeli Fire and Rescue Authority said on Friday. The blazes broke out on Wednesday near the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv motorway and in some mountain areas in the West Bank, prompting the Israeli police to close roads and evacuate thousands. More than 160 firefighting ground crews and 12 aircraft were working to contain the wildfires. Several major roads have reopened after firefighting teams managed to get many of the bushfires under control. Hot and dry conditions with strong winds had posed a serious challenge for firefighters. There were warnings that the fires could flare up again, as firefighting teams were still tackling lingering hotspots. At least 12 people have been treated for smoke inhalation, Israel's ambulance service said. Israeli broadcaster Kan said 17 firefighters were injured as they attempted to contain the flames. "All routes have been reopened to traffic," the Israeli police said in a statement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declared an emergency in response to the fires, and hundreds of people fled their homes. Countries including France, Italy and Spain had sent aircraft to assist in the emergency. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the fires were 'part of the climate change crisis, which must not be ignored'. However, the cause of the fires has yet to be determined. Mr Netanyahu blamed it on arson and said 18 people had been arrested in connection with the wildfires, but the police denied the arrests.
The National
02-05-2025
- The National
Israel fires largely contained after mass evacuations
Wildfires that spread across large parts of Israel have been mostly contained, the country's Fire and Rescue Authority said on Friday. The blazes broke out on Wednesday near the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv motorway, prompting police to close roads and evacuate thousands of residents. More than 160 firefighting ground crews and 12 aircraft were working to contain the wildfires, which were described as the country's worst in a decade. Several major roads have now reopened after firefighting teams managed to get many of the bushfires under control. Hot and dry conditions with strong winds had posed a serious challenge for firefighters, authorities said. Officials warned the fires could flare up again and firefighting teams are still tackling lingering hotspots. At least 12 people have been treated for smoke inhalation, Israel's ambulance service said, but no deaths were reported. Israeli broadcaster Kan said 17 firefighters were injured as they attempted to contain the flames. "I've been in the service for 24 years and I've been through many fires," said Shlomi Harush, a deputy commander of Ayalon fire station. "There's no doubt that this is one of the toughest fires I've seen." Crews worked through the night, enabling the reopening of main roads, including the Jerusalem- Tel Aviv route, police said. "All routes have been reopened to traffic," they said in a statement. Residents of the Mavo Horon settlement have been allowed to return to their homes, police added. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declared a national emergency in response to the fires and hundreds of people fled their homes. An evacuation order for 12 towns near Jerusalem has now been lifted. Countries including France, Italy and Spain had sent aircraft to assist in the emergency. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Thursday the fires were 'part of the climate change crisis, which must not be ignored'. 'It requires us to prepare for serious and significant challenges and to make decisions – including appropriate legislation,' said Mr Herzog, thanking firefighters for 'risking their lives … to save lives and contain the great fire'. Authorities have banned people from visiting parks and forests, and from lighting fires in public places. The cause of the fires has yet to be determined. Mr Netanyahu blamed it on arson and said 18 people had been arrested in connection to the wildfires.
Gulf News
02-05-2025
- Gulf News
Israel brings fire near Jerusalem 'under control', reopens roads
Firefighters battled through the night to contain the largest fire in a decade Last updated: AFP Bushfires that erupted near Jerusalem were largely brought under control on Thursday, authorities said, with major roads reopened and firefighting teams still tackling lingering hotspots. The blaze ignited along the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway on Wednesday, prompting widespread evacuations and road closures as firefighters battled through the night to contain what officials have called the largest fire in a decade. "The fire is under control," said Shlomi Harush, a senior official with the firefighting service. "There are only hotspots left... all teams remain deployed across the affected areas," he told AFP, warning that strong winds could still reignite the flames. According to an AFP journalist on the scene, smoke continued to rise near a monastery in Latrun, approximately 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) from Jerusalem, as firefighters sprayed water on smouldering embers. Civilians also came out to help douse the fire. "We used water hoses connected to homes and municipal taps installed along the streets," Ahmad Ibrahim, a resident of Abu Ghosh village, told AFP. "We acted out of concern for the community, trying to stop the fire from spreading and endangering residents or their homes." The fire service reported that 163 ground crews and 12 aircraft had been mobilised to fight the blaze, which has scorched an estimated 13,000 hectares of forest, according to police. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had warned late Wednesday that the flames could reach Jerusalem, declaring the situation a "national emergency". Police confirmed on Thursday that all major routes, including the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv corridor, had been reopened. "All routes have been reopened to traffic," they said in a statement, adding that residents of the evacuated Mavo Horon settlement had been allowed to return. Authorities were also instructed to expedite the return of other displaced residents. While several Independence Day events scheduled for Wednesday evening were cancelled, celebrations resumed on Thursday despite the ongoing firefighting operations. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has hinted that arson may be behind the fires. The Times of Israel reported that Netanyahu told a function in Jerusalem on Thursday that authorities were "holding 18 people at the moment who are suspected of arson, one of whom was caught in the act". While wildfires are not unheard of in Israel this time of year in the past, they are not considered a regular occurrence. Rescue agency Magen David Adom said it treated 23 people on Wednesday, mostly for smoke inhalation and burns. Seventeen firefighters were injured, according to public broadcaster Kan. The Israeli military said its personnel were helping in Jerusalem and other central districts. Engineering vehicles were deployed "to form lines to prevent the fire from spreading," the company said in a statement. The air force was also assisting, and around 50 firetrucks were dispatched. Fanned by strong winds, the fires spread rapidly through wooded areas on Wednesday, prompting evacuations from at least five communities, police said. "It's just very sad because we knew the weather, we kind of knew that would happen, and still we feel like they weren't ready enough with the big planes that can drop large amounts of water," evacuee Yuval Aharoni, 40, told AFP on Wednesday. "A lot of police arrived, a lot of firefighters, but it didn't really help. The fire had already completely taken over the whole area here," student Yosef Aaron said from the side of a highway, flames visible in the distance. Late Wednesday, the foreign ministry said firefighting aircraft were expected to arrive from Croatia, France, Italy, Romania and Spain to join the operation. Cyprus and Serbia also announced they were sending firefighting helicopters to Israel.
