Israel declares national emergency as wildfires threaten Jerusalem

Israel has shut down major roads, evacuated towns and has requested international assistance following intense wildfires raging near Jerusalem. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared a "national emergency," warning citizens that the fires are likely to continue for a while. 

Thick smoke blanketed highways as emergency services battled what authorities described as some of the most severe blazes in recent memory. Several people have been injured, and the Israeli military has deployed troops to support exhausted firefighting teams on the ground.

The crisis interrupted Israel’s Memorial Day, a solemn national observance honouring fallen soldiers. Scheduled ceremonies were cut short, and televised tributes were replaced with footage of residents fleeing on foot along smoke-filled roads. More celebrations planned for May 1 have been largely cancelled due to the ongoing fires and adverse weather conditions, including high winds.

Eyal Caspi, head of Israel’s Fire and Rescue Service, called the event “one of the toughest” he has ever faced. He noted that aerial firefighting operations were being hindered by strong winds and dangerous conditions. “The fire was advancing at a speed of eight metres per second. We’ve never seen anything like this,” he said, attributing the fire’s intensity in part to the effects of climate change.

Netanyahu echoed this sentiment in a public address, citing a “deadly combination” of wind and dryness as key factors in the fire’s escalation. He urged the mobilisation of all available fire engines and the creation of firebreaks well beyond the current containment lines. “The priority right now is defending Jerusalem,” he said.

Israel has appealed to countries including the United Kingdom, France, Greece and Italy for immediate assistance. The Palestinian Authority has, meanwhile, offered support, although Israeli officials have not confirmed whether the offer will be accepted. Palestinian crews had previously aided in combating a major fire near Jerusalem in 2021.

In a potentially alarming development, police arrested a man in his 50s from the Umm Tuba neighbourhood of East Jerusalem on suspicion of attempted arson. Officers found a lighter and other flammable materials in his possession after he was reportedly seen trying to ignite vegetation in southern Jerusalem. The Shin Bet security service has launched an investigation into the broader cause of the wildfires, working alongside police and fire officials to determine if multiple instances of arson may have occurred.

Meanwhile, Yair Netanyahu, son of the prime minister, drew criticism for a provocative social media post in which he suggested—without evidence—that left-wing activists might be involved in the blazes. Referring to anti-government demonstrators, he wrote: “I really hope the arson was only carried out by Arabs, without any collaboration from our own people.”

According to latest updates, 119 firefighting teams remain active across the Jerusalem hills. Although highways 1, 38, and 3 have reopened, authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as containment efforts persist.

Middle East