Raging forest infernos near Jerusalem have plunged Israel into a state of emergency, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alerting that the flames could soon breach city limits.
Dense plumes of smoke engulfed major roadways and surrounding communities, forcing mass evacuations and causing injuries. Firefighters, reinforced by military teams, are battling what’s being described as Israel’s most severe wildfire crisis in recent memory, as per AFP.
Emergency response unit Magen David Adom reported treating 23 individuals, 13 of whom required hospital care due to severe smoke inhalation and burns. Among the injured were two expectant mothers and two infants.
Law enforcement sealed the primary Jerusalem–Tel Aviv expressway and evacuated thousands as new fires erupted in regions already scorched last week.
Yosef Aaron, a student at the scene, said, “Though rescue teams arrived promptly, the fire had already devoured the area.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir indicated potential arson. Police later apprehended a man from East Jerusalem for allegedly attempting to ignite a field, though official connections to the wider blazes remain unverified.
Netanyahu cautioned that western winds could push the fire into Jerusalem’s heart. “We must mobilize more fire units and carve out preventive fire zones. This is a national-level crisis,” he stressed in a video statement.
In a show of solidarity, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged material assistance. Additionally, Italy and Croatia are dispatching firefighting aircraft to bolster suppression efforts.
Read also: