Israel battles central wildfires for second day as international help arrives

Israel entered the second day of battling intense wildfires that engulfed large parts of its central region, particularly the area north of Beit Shemesh in the Judaean Hills.

Firefighters worked through the night into Thursday, May 1, managing by morning to contain the spread of the flames, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media.

Major roads that had been shut down due to the fires have now reopened, although authorities continue to advise against entering affected zones.

The blazes, which broke out on April 30, destroyed an estimated 19 square kilometres of forested land. Damage assessments are still underway and may rise further.

The General Security Service (Shin Bet), alongside the fire department and police, has launched an investigation into the causes of the wildfires. One of the major fires originated in the Eshtaol Forest, which served as the epicentre for the larger outbreak.

While a few individuals were detained across the country on suspicion of arson, none have yet been linked to the Eshtaol incident. Among those detained was a 50-year-old man from the Arab village of Umm Tuba, southeast of Jerusalem, who was caught attempting to ignite dry grass in southern Jerusalem.

The emergency response has grown into an international effort. On Thursday morning, firefighting aircraft from several countries joined Israeli forces in dousing remaining hotspots. Israel had appealed for help from 13 countries, and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar confirmed that he had contacted counterparts in Azerbaijan, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Portugal, North Macedonia, France, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Sweden to request aerial firefighting support.

“Over the past hours, I’ve spoken with colleagues from around the world and requested their assistance with aerial firefighting efforts,” Sa’ar stated, according to local news agencies.

Weather conditions have temporarily improved, aiding containment efforts. Humidity in the fire zone rose to 80%, temperatures fell sharply, and wind speeds remained low overnight. However, meteorologists warn that strong westerly winds are expected to develop later in the day, which could hamper efforts and rekindle some flames.

Throughout the emergency, approximately 100 firefighting teams have been deployed, and several aerial units have been flying missions over affected areas. Dozens of residents and emergency personnel sustained injuries, mostly from smoke inhalation and minor burns. Among them were 12 firefighters, including Fire Commissioner Eyal Kaspi, who received medical attention but are in stable condition. Thankfully, no fatalities have been reported.

Some communities that had been evacuated on Wednesday were given permission to return home as conditions improved on Thursday.

As Israel continues to confront this environmental disaster, officials emphasise the importance of avoiding travel to affected zones, even as roads reopen. The situation remains fluid, and emergency services remain on high alert.

By Tamilla Hasanova