Wildfires Ravage Jerusalem Area: Israel Deploys Troops and Evacuates Regions

Israel’s Defense Minister, Benny Gantz, has ordered the military to deploy forces to combat rapidly spreading wildfires west of Jerusalem. Israeli authorities have halted traffic on the highway connecting Jerusalem to Tel Aviv and evacuated communities along the route. Additionally, areas approximately 30 kilometers west of Jerusalem have been cleared, as reported by Israeli media outlets, showing images of firefighting planes battling the flames. “We are in a state of national emergency, and all available resources must be mobilized to save lives and control the fires,” stated Gantz in an official announcement. Due to adverse weather conditions, Minister Miri Regev announced the cancellation of the main Independence Day celebration scheduled for tonight in Jerusalem. With high temperatures and strong winds, the fires quickly spread through wooded areas, resulting in the evacuation of at least five communities, according to police reports. International aid from Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, and Italy is being sent to assist Israel. The Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees the firefighting service, announced that he visited affected locations. Last week, as fires in the same region approached Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned considering international assistance before the fires were eventually brought under control.