Israel’s allies in Europe are sending over aid in the coming hours to tackle blazing wildfires after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the situation a national emergency, pleading for international aid.
Wildfires raging outside of Jerusalem have reportedly destroyed almost 5,000 acres of land, including 3,000 acres of forest, according to Fire and Rescue Services.
Firefighter planes from Greece, Cyprus, Croatia and Italy will arrive to tackle the blaze in the coming hours, with reports that Ukraine, Spain, France and more have also committed to sending aid.
The cause of the flames remain unclear, although Mr Netanyahu said that 18 people had been arrested on suspicion of igniting the wildfires.
At least a dozen people have been hospitalised and 10 have been treated in the field by medical professionals.
“This is perhaps the largest fire ever in the country,” Jerusalem’s district fire department commander Shmulik Friedman told reporters on Wednesday afternoon.
He warned that winds of 60 miles an hour were making the situation challenging and could dramatically increasing the risk of the fires “in the near future”.
“It will continue for a very long time. We are far from having control.”
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Key Points
- Israel declares national emergency as wildfires rage near Jerusalem
- Israeli police arrest suspect for allegedly igniting fire
- At least 22 people treated by emergency services due to wildfires
- Israel wildfires mapped
- 5,000 acres of land destroyed
- Foreign allies come to Israel's aid
Wildfires near Jerusalem largely contained
04:58
,
Stuti Mishra
The major wildfires near Jerusalem have been largely contained, said the Jewish National Fund, which manages forests in the country, though firefighting efforts continue to address remaining hotspots.
Evacuation orders have been lifted, and major highways, including the main route between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, have reopened.
International assistance has bolstered firefighting efforts, with countries such as Italy, Croatia, Spain, France, Ukraine, Romania, North Macedonia, and Cyprus sending firefighting aircraft.
Evacuation order lifted on dozen towns in Jerusalem hills on Thursday
04:30
,
Tara Cobham
Israel's fire and rescue authority lifted the evacuation order on approximately a dozen towns in the Jerusalem hills on Thursday.
Three Catholic religious communities who were forced to evacuate from their properties on Wednesday were also able to return on Thursday, said Farid Jubran, the spokesperson for the Latin Patriarchate. He said their agricultural lands, including vineyards and olive trees, suffered heavy damage, and some of the buildings were damaged. But there were no injuries, and historic churches were not affected.
The main highway linking Jerusalem to Tel Aviv reopened on Thursday, a day after the flames had encroached on the road, forcing drivers to abandon their cars and flee in terror. On Thursday morning, broad swathes of burned areas were visible from the highway, while pink anti-flame retardant dusted the top of burned trees and bushes. Smoke and the smell of fire hung heavy in the air.
Watch: Israel wildfires close key Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway as flames turn sky grey
04:00
,
Tara Cobham
What caused the Israel wildfires? At least 18 suspects arrested over possible arson link
03:00
,
Tara Cobham
Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that 18 people had been arrested on suspicion of starting fires outside Jerusalem, with one allegedly caught in the act of arson, as the country battled possibly its worst ever wildfires.
“This is perhaps the largest fire ever in the country,” Jerusalem’s district fire department commander Shmulik Friedman told reporters on Wednesday afternoon.
While the exact cause of the fires near Latrun was still unclear, Mr Netanyahu said the blaze was “not a simple thing”.
My colleague Maroosha Muzaffar reports:
Fires come after massive forest fire claimed 44 lives in Israel in 2010
02:00
,
Tara Cobham
The fires comes after a massive forest fire claimed 44 lives when it burned for four days on northern Israel's Mount Carmel in 2010.
That blaze also destroyed around 12,000 acres, much of it woodland.
Watch: IDF combats Israeli wildfire as Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway blocked
01:00
,
Tara Cobham
Climate change contributed to fire's ferocity, says organisation managing Israel's forests
Friday 2 May 2025 00:00
,
Tara Cobham
Climate change, which has resulted in decreased rainfall in the region, contributed to the fire's ferocity, according to one of the organisations that manages Israel's forests.
Anat Gold, the director of Israel's central region for the Jewish National Fund, known by its Hebrew acronym KKL, which manages forests, plants trees, and promotes settlement in the Holy Land, said: “Of course when there's a series of drought years, it's a fertile ground for fires.”
Such strong fires this early in year are unusual for Israel
Thursday 1 May 2025 23:00
,
Tara Cobham
Israel often sees fires in the summertime, but such strong fires this early in the year are unusual. Many of Israel's forests are planted rather than natural.
One of the organisations that manages Israel's forests said that the fires had perfect conditions to spread: a winter with little rain, hot and dry weather, and exceptionally strong winds that are shifting direction constantly.
Pictured: Firefighting aircrafts carry water to defeat the blaze
Thursday 1 May 2025 22:00
,
Bryony Gooch
Jerusalem wildfire in numbers
Thursday 1 May 2025 21:00
,
Bryony Gooch
5,000 acres of land destroyed by the wildfires.
At least 15 countries offering to send aid to Israel to quash the flames.
At least 23 people treated by the Magen David Adom for smoke inhalation and burns as of Thursday morning.
21 firefighters slightly injured from fighting the blaze.
Benjamin Netanyahu said 18 people were arrested on suspicion of igniting the blaze, while police have said they only arrested three people on suspicion of arson.
What is Israeli Independence Day?
Thursday 1 May 2025 20:00
,
Bryony Gooch
Israeli Independence Day is a national celebration, also known as Yom Ha'atzmaut, in which the country commemorates the Declaration of Independence which took place on 14 May 1948.
In order to avoid conflicts with the Jewish Sabbath, the day is rarely celebrated on the fifth of Iyar - the second month in the Jewish calendar - itself, instead falling a couple of days before or after.
This year the celebration began on the evening of 30 April, extending into 1 May.
It is typically celebrated with large family cookouts in parks and forests.
The countries that are reportedly sending aid to help Israel with the Jerusalem wildfires
Thursday 1 May 2025 19:00
,
Bryony Gooch
Here are all the countries that have reportedly spoken about sending aid over to Israel amid the Jerusalem wildfires
- Cyprus
- North Macedonia
- Greece
- Croatia
- Azerbaijan
- Ukraine
- Argentina
- France
- Italy
- United Kingdom
- Spain
- Portugal
- Czech Republic
- Sweden
- Romania
What we don’t know about the Jerusalem wildfires:
Thursday 1 May 2025 18:00
,
Bryony Gooch
- Fire and Rescue services have said the exact cause of these wildfires remains unknown to them.
- We don’t know the exact number of people who have been arrested. While prime minister Netanyahu suggested 18 people were arrested on suspicion of arson, police reportedly have only arrested three.
- It’s yet to be determined how many people have been affected by the wildfires, or the total number of people injured.
In pictures: Latrun area decimated by flames
Thursday 1 May 2025 17:00
,
Bryony Gooch
Jerusalem municipality: Independence Day celebrations will continue - reports
Thursday 1 May 2025 16:30
,
Bryony Gooch
Jerusalem Municipality will reportedly continue their Independence Day events tonight as scheduled after they were initially cancelled.
Stages will operate from 9pm and the light rail will operate until 2am, according to N12 news channel.
What we know about the Jerusalem wildfires
Thursday 1 May 2025 16:00
,
Bryony Gooch
- Wildfires sparked in the outskirts of Jerusalem around midday on Wednesday and have gradually spread across the hills.
- It was fuelled by hot, dry conditions and fanned by strong winds that quickly whipped up the flames burning through pine forests.
- Several communities were evacuated as a precaution as the smoke turned the skies over Jerusalem grey. They were allowed to return following assessments by local authorities on Thursday.
- The fire took place over the country’s Independence Day, cancelling many celebrations as security forces were diverted towards the fire.
- The Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem highway had to be temporarily closed as smoke billowed over the hills, causing people to get out of their cars and run away.
- 23 people, including children, have been treated for smoke inhalation and burns as the wildfire continues.
- Benjamin Netanyahu declared a national emergency and called on international support for foreign aid.
- The lines of Cyprus, North Macedonia, Greece, Croatia, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, Ukraine and France all offered foreign aid with many sending over firefighting aircrafts.
Jewish National Fund director says fire is mostly contained
Thursday 1 May 2025 15:45
,
Bryony Gooch
Anat Gold, the director of Israel's central region for the Jewish National Fund, known by its Hebrew acronym KKL, which manages forests, plants trees, and promotes settlement in the Holy Land, has said the fire is mostly contained.
But she added that workers were struggling to plow buffer zones and fire breaks as the same spots ignited repeatedly in the quickly changing winds.
Gold said climate change, which has resulted in decreased rainfall in the region, contributed to the fire's ferocity. "Of course when there's a series of drought years, it's a fertile ground for fires," she said.
In pictures: Pink flame retardant falls from the sky over the burning Jerusalem hills
Thursday 1 May 2025 15:31
,
Bryony Gooch
Israel’s Magen David Adom deploys teams to provide medical support to people injured in wildfires
Thursday 1 May 2025 15:15
,
Bryony Gooch
As of Thursday morning, Israel’s emergency medical service Magen David Adom (MDA) provided treatment to 23 people suffering from smoke inhalation and burns, including two pregnant women and two infants less than a year old. 13 of the patients had to be taken to hospital, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
'Significant effort' from IDF and Interior Command to protect settlements from wildfire
Thursday 1 May 2025 15:01
,
Bryony Gooch
Fire and Rescue Services said there was a “significant effort” being made by the IDF and the Interior Command to create hot lines using heavy TSA tools in order to help protect the settlements from the spread of fire.
In pictures: Garden centre burned down in wildfire chaos
Thursday 1 May 2025 14:47
,
Bryony Gooch
WATCH: Israel wildfires close key Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway as flames turn sky grey
Thursday 1 May 2025 14:31
,
Bryony Gooch
What is Israeli Independence Day?
Thursday 1 May 2025 14:15
,
Bryony Gooch
Israeli Independence Day is a national celebration, also known as Yom Ha'atzmaut, in which the country commemorates the Declaration of Independence which took place on 14 May 1948.
In order to avoid conflicts with the Jewish Sabbath, the day is rarely celebrated on the fifth of Iyar - the second month in the Jewish calendar - itself, instead falling a couple of days before or after.
This year the celebration began on the evening of 30 April, extending into 1 May.
It is typically celebrated with large family cookouts in parks and forests.
The countries that are reportedly sending aid to help Israel with the Jerusalem wildfires
Thursday 1 May 2025 14:02
,
Bryony Gooch
Here are all the countries that have reportedly spoken about sending aid over to Israel amid the Jerusalem wildfires
- Cyprus
- North Macedonia
- Greece
- Croatia
- Azerbaijan
- Ukraine
- Argentina
- France
- Italy
- United Kingdom
- Spain
- Portugal
- Czech Republic
- Sweden
- Romania
In pictures: Drone shots of the Jerusalem wildfires
Thursday 1 May 2025 13:44
,
Bryony Gooch
Foreign minister confirms more foreign aid coming through to support end to wildfires
Thursday 1 May 2025 13:33
,
Bryony Gooch
Foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar said he had called his counterparts among a number of global allies to confirm aerial assistance in tackling the wildfires near Jerusalem.
He said: “Over the past few hours, I held a series of phone calls with my counterparts from Argentina, France, Italy, the UK, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus, Azerbaijan and North Macedonia, to request aerial assistance in dealing with the wildfires near Jerusalem.
“I thank all those countries that already promised assistance to fight the blaze and to those currently looking into our requests with great will to help.
“Israel is fortunate to have true friends who stand by her in times of need. We also thank all those who are offering help.”
Over the past few hours, I held a series of phone calls with my counterparts from Argentina, France, Italy, the UK, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus, Azerbaijan and North Macedonia, to request aerial assistance in dealing with the wildfires…
— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) April 30, 2025
98 fire crews 'working intensively' as 21 firefighters injured in blaze
Thursday 1 May 2025 13:17
,
Bryony Gooch
The Fire and Rescue Service has said 98 fire crews are ‘working intensely’ to contain the wildfire before winds pick up in the Jerusalem Hills area in the late afternoon.
They said 21 firefighters were ‘slightly injured’ but there had been no damage to property or life, except for a fire truck.
In pictures: Monks watch as firefighters tackle blaze
Thursday 1 May 2025 13:02
,
Bryony Gooch
18 arrested on suspicion of igniting blaze
Thursday 1 May 2025 12:45
,
Bryony Gooch
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said 18 people have been arrested on suspicion of helping to ignite wildfires outside Jerusalem as the wildfire continues.
Netanyahu said that one of the suspects was caught in the act of arson, according to the Times of Israel.
The Fire and Rescue Services have yet to confirm the cause of the flames.
Netanyahu said the fire “is not a simple thing, there is harm to nature and also harm to people, and we’re holding 18 people at the moment who are suspected of arson, one of whom was caught in the act.”
He added he was “sure that we will succeeded in dealing with this challenge as well. We’re doing everything we can to thwart the fire and rehabilitate what was destroyed.”
Fire and Rescue commissioner said they are preparing for international firefighting assistance in 'next hour
Thursday 1 May 2025 12:30
,
Bryony Gooch
Israel Fire and Rescue Commissioner, Lieutenant Colonel Eyal Caspi has said the service is preparing to integrate aerial firefighting assistance from international aid in the next hour.
He said: "Preparations must be made now for the integration of international aerial firefighting assistance with its arrival in Israel in the next hour.
In cooperation with all parties, we are in massive operation to stop the fire before noon. We are strong."
President of EU Commission shows solidarity with Israel amid fires as foreign aid due in next coming hours
Thursday 1 May 2025 12:16
,
Bryony Gooch
We support the fight against devastating fires in Israel.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 1, 2025
We have activated our European Civil Protection Mechanism.
Firefighter planes from Greece, Cyprus, Croatia and Italy are on their way to help fight the blaze.
This is EU solidarity in action.
UK, Italy and Croatia sending in aid to stop wildfires
Thursday 1 May 2025 12:07
,
Bryony Gooch
A firefighter jet from Cyprus will arrive in the next hour and will connect to air-fighting activity by the KAF, according to the Fire and Rescue Services.
Other firefighter jets from Italy, Croatia and the UK are expected to arrive in the afternoon.
'This is the most significant fire Israel has seen in past decade'
Thursday 1 May 2025 12:03
,
Bryony Gooch
Tal Volvovitch, a spokesperson for Israel's fire and rescue authority, said it was the most significant fire Israel had seen in the past decade. She said the fire has "miraculously" not damaged any homes.
Israel's fire and rescue authority warned the public to stay away from parks or forests, and to be exceptionally careful while lighting barbecues. Thursday is Israel's Independence Day, which is typically marked with large family cookouts in parks and forests.
In pictures: Firefighters tackle wildfires decimating forests outside Jerusalem
Thursday 1 May 2025 11:47
,
Bryony Gooch
Highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv opens
Thursday 1 May 2025 11:31
,
Bryony Gooch
The main highway linking Jerusalem to Tel Aviv was opened again on Thursday, a day after the flames had encroached on the road, forcing drivers to abandon their cars and flee in terror.
On Thursday morning, broad swathes of burned areas were visible from the highway, while pink anti-flame retardant dusted the top of burned trees and bushes. Smoke and the smell of fire hung heavy in the air.
WATCH: Israeli military tackles blazing wildfires as Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway blocked
Thursday 1 May 2025 11:15
,
Bryony Gooch
President Herzog says wildfire is part of climate crisis 'which must not be ignored' in Independence Day speech
Thursday 1 May 2025 11:02
,
Bryony Gooch
President Isaac Herzog referred to the ongoing fires outside of Jerusalem in an Independence Day ceremony at his residence.
“This fire is part of the climate crisis, which must not be ignored,” he said, per The Times of Israel. “It requires us to prepare for serious and significant challenges and to make decisions – including appropriate legislation.”
The president then thanked the firefighters who were “risking their lives for almost a full day now to save lives and contain the great fire.”
He said: “We cannot celebrate independence with a whole heart when our brothers and sisters [who are held hostage in Gaza] are not with us. Israel as a nation longs for them, for their freedom.”
Herzog added that “even in times of deep disagreements, our courage and our unity are intertwined, dependent on one another. One thing is clear: Even when we have differences of opinion, we must keep the IDF — which belongs to all of us — above and outside all political disputes.”
Fire services allow people to return to their homes following evacuation
Thursday 1 May 2025 10:28
,
Bryony Gooch
Israel fire and rescue services have decided to return evacuated residents to their homes following assessment.
Several countries are providing firefighting planes in the afternoon after Israel requested international aid.
WATCH: IDF combats Israeli wildfire as Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway blocked
Thursday 1 May 2025 10:26
,
Bryony Gooch
In pictures: Cistercian monks walk around Latrun Monastery as smoke erupts
Thursday 1 May 2025 10:16
,
Bryony Gooch
Foreign allies come to Israel's aid as wildfire rages on
Thursday 1 May 2025 10:01
,
Bryony Gooch
Italy, Croatia, Spain, France and Romania have sent planes to help battle the flames after Israel asked for international aid in fanning its “largest ever” wildfire. North Macedonia and Cyprus sent over water-dropping aircrafts.
Israeli authorities said 10 firefighting planes were operating on Thursday morning, with another eight aircraft to arrive during the course of the day.
5,000 acres of land destroyed in ongoing wildfires
Thursday 1 May 2025 09:50
,
Bryony Gooch
Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael have said around 5,000 acres of land has been destroyed due to ongoing fires around Jerusalem. This includes 3,000 acres of forest.
The organisation said that the large Canada Park near Beit Shemesh was the area hardest hit by the blaze.
What caused the wildfire?
Thursday 1 May 2025 09:46
,
Bryony Gooch
Wildfires broke out around midday on Wednesday outside of Jerusalem.
They were fuelled by hot, dry conditions and fanned by strong winds that quickly whipped up the flames burning through a pine forest.
Israeli police said they apprehended a “suspect attempting to ignite fire in open field”.
“Officers from the Jerusalem District arrested a resident of East Jerusalem who was caught in the act of attempting to set fire to a field in the southern part of the city,” the Police Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement on Wednesday.
“A search of the suspect’s belongings uncovered a lighter, cotton wool, and additional flammable materials,” it added, saying the suspect is a man in his fifties from Umm Tuba, which is a Palestinian Arab neighbourhood in East Jerusalem.
Israel wildfires mapped: Netanyahu declares national emergency as record blaze nears Jerusalem
Thursday 1 May 2025 09:37
,
Bryony Gooch
Israel is grappling with one of its largest wildfires ever, prompting a national emergency to be declared as the uncontrolled blaze draws close to Jerusalem.
The blaze erupted in the hills west of Jerusalem on Wednesday, starting in the Eshtaol Forest near Mesilat Zion and rapidly spreading due to high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds.
“This is perhaps the largest fire ever in the country,” Jerusalem’s district fire department commander Shmulik Friedman told reporters on Wednesday afternoon.
Stuti Mishra reports:
Israeli Air Force working with firefighters
Thursday 1 May 2025 09:29
,
Bryony Gooch
Israel’s Air Force is assisting in firefighting efforts.
They said on social media: “Firefighting teams and fire engines of the Air Force are working in parallel with the 'Shimshon' aircraft that operated overnight and dropped more than 95 fire-fighting charges in an effort to extinguish the fires.
“The Intelligence Corps established a special collection team that investigated the fire sites and worked collaboratively to assist in locating hotspots and directing firefighting efforts.”
Lighting fires in open areas prohibited in all parts of the country
Thursday 1 May 2025 09:16
,
Bryony Gooch
Fire and Rescue services have prohibited lighting fires in open areas in all parts of the country for the next week as emergency services tackle the blaze.
They said that people were still allowed to light barbecues so long as they followed the safety rules.
The services warned: “Do not endanger yourself and the emergency forces – avoid reaching the prohibited areas.”
At least 22 people treated by emergency services due to wildfires
Thursday 1 May 2025 08:52
,
Bryony Gooch
Magen David Adom Ambulance services said they treated at least 12 people in hospitals on Wednesday due to smoke inhalation.
A further 10 people were treated in the field, the emergency services provider said.
155 firefighting teams operating in 'full force' in the area of Shfelet Yehuda
Thursday 1 May 2025 08:37
,
Bryony Gooch
Israel’s Fire and Rescue services has said there are 155 firefighting teams operating at “full force in all fire centers in the area of Shfelet Yehuda.”
They said the Elad Squadron's firefighting planes were making rounds over the
