Military dispatches troops to manage blaze approaching Jerusalem region
In the heart of Israel, a national emergency is unfolding as brushfires rampage through wooded areas, posing a dire threat to hundreds of civilians. The Magen David Adom (MDA) rescue agency reports these incidents, sounding the alarm for immediate action.
Sixteen individuals have been treated for minor injuries due to smoke inhalation, with the MDA raising the alert level to its highest point. In response, the police have shut down the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway and evacuated residents along the route as the fires rekindle in an area already scorched a week ago.
Katz, the minister in charge of the situation, urges all available forces to mobilize, emphasizing the need to save lives and extinguish the raging inferno. A journalist at the scene describes the fires raging near the Latrun-Beit Shemesh main road and helicopters working tirelessly to quell the flames.
Drivers have abandoned their vehicles on the road and fled as enormous clouds of smoke billow from the fire, with the injured hastily evacuated. Communities located approximately 30 kilometers west of Jerusalem have also been evacuated, according to Israeli media reports, which air images of firefighting teams struggling against the intense flames.
The MDA has positioned ambulance teams near communities close to the fires, ready to offer medical treatment and assist residents. A motorcycle unit stands ready to provide medical assistance to stranded citizens entangled in heavy traffic.
The fires have been exacerbated by high temperatures and strong winds, allowing them to swiftly spread in wooded areas, resulting in evacuations from at least five communities, as stated by the police. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, overseeing the fire department, has visited the afflicted area, which is notoriously prone to wildfires at this time of year.
In a video statement, Ben Gvir indicates efforts are underway to supply more assistance to the affected areas and evacuate stranded civilians. Israel has requested assistance from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, and Italy in combating the fires.
Due to the unfavorable weather conditions, the minister responsible for arranging national ceremonies, Miri Regev, has canceled the main Independence Day event planned for Wednesday evening in Jerusalem.
The ongoing efforts to combat these fires underscore the massive scale of the disaster, which has devastated substantial tracts of forest land and triggered a significant crisis in the region. It seems that the national emergency declared by the Israeli government is no exaggeration.
[4] MDA Reports Hundreds of Civilians at Risk from Fires, 16 Treated for Injuries (Times of Israel, 30 April 2025)[5] Israel Brushfires Force evacuations, Requests International Assistance (Associated Press, 30 April 2025)
Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA) reports hundreds of civilians are at risk from the ongoing brushfires, with 16 individuals having been treated for injuries due to smoke inhalation.
As the fires rekindle in areas already scorched a week ago, police have mobilized, shutting down the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway and evacuating residents along the route.
In the General News and Crime & Justice sectors, there are reports of communities located 30 kilometers west of Jerusalem being evacuated, with videos airing of firefighting teams battling intense flames.
The MDA has positioned ambulance teams and a motorcycle unit, ready to offer medical treatment and assist affected citizens. Israel has requested assistance from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, and Italy to combat the fires.
