Islamabad – May 1, 2025: Israeli firefighters have brought a massive wildfire under control after it tore through forested areas near the main Jerusalem–Tel Aviv highway.
According to Shlomi Harush, a senior fire service official, the blaze was now contained, though isolated hotspots remained. He added that crews would stay in the area as strong winds could still reignite the flames.
Smoke continued to rise near Latrun, around 25 kilometres from Jerusalem, as emergency teams worked into Thursday to prevent flare-ups. Residents of nearby villages, such as Abu Ghosh, also joined the efforts, using hoses connected to homes and public water taps to help protect their communities.
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Authorities reported that 163 ground teams and 12 aircraft were mobilised to combat the fire, which scorched around 13,000 hectares of forest. By Thursday, traffic had resumed on the reopened Jerusalem–Tel Aviv corridor, and residents of the evacuated Mavo Horon settlement were allowed to return home.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declared the fire a “national emergency” on Wednesday, warning that it could threaten Jerusalem. The military deployed engineering vehicles and 50 firetrucks to help contain the spread, while air force units assisted in aerial operations.
Israel received international support, with firefighting aircraft and helicopters arriving or en route from countries including France, Italy, Spain, Romania, Croatia, Cyprus, and Serbia.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir suggested arson may have played a role. Netanyahu later confirmed that 18 suspects were being held, including one caught at the scene.
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Though wildfires are not rare in Israel, this level of destruction is unusual. Rescue teams treated 23 people, mostly for smoke inhalation and burns, while 17 firefighters were also injured.
Despite initial disruptions, Independence Day celebrations resumed on Thursday. However, many voiced frustration over what they perceived as insufficient preparation for such a large-scale event.
“It’s sad. We saw the weather warnings but felt the country wasn’t ready,” said Yuval Aharoni, a resident who was evacuated on Wednesday.
