Islamabad, May 1, 2025: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a nationwide crisis as rapidly spreading forest fires near Jerusalem pose a severe risk of engulfing the city.
Fueled by scorching temperatures and fierce winds, the flames have already injured multiple individuals and led to mass evacuations in various towns and neighborhoods.
Dense clouds of smoke covered the highways surrounding the capital on Wednesday, forcing the military to send in soldiers to back up exhausted fire crews.
Police have closed the main Jerusalem–Tel Aviv expressway and strongly urged civilians to stay away. Israel’s national emergency service, Magen David Adom (MDA), reported treating 23 victims, including two babies and two expecting mothers.
Thirteen of them were admitted to hospitals for smoke-related breathing issues and burn injuries.
Netanyahu cautioned, “The western winds can effortlessly drive the flames toward the outer edges of Jerusalem—and potentially into the city itself. We are now facing a national crisis. Our top concern is safeguarding Jerusalem.”
Fire Commissioner Eyal Caspi mentioned that aerial firefighting operations were currently impossible because of harsh weather, describing the blaze as potentially the most devastating wildfire Israel has faced in the last ten years.
Officials suspect that at least one fire may have been deliberately set, as police detained a suspect in East Jerusalem accused of trying to ignite a field.
Israel has appealed for international aid, reaching out to Greece, Italy, Croatia, Cyprus, and Bulgaria for urgent support.
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Netanyahu’s office confirmed that firefighting planes from Italy and Croatia are expected to arrive shortly to join the battle.
This sweeping wildfire crisis underscores the urgent need for stronger disaster preparedness measures in the region.
As temperatures rise and wind patterns become more erratic, local communities remain on edge, hoping for rapid intervention and international cooperation to prevent further disaster.
The government’s quick response and foreign partnerships will play a critical role in containing the destruction and protecting the city’s historic and densely populated zones.
