Wildfires devastate 5,000 acres near Jerusalem French aid offer declined

Ongoing wildfires around Jerusalem have destroyed approximately 5,000 acres of land, including 3,000 acres of forest.

Among the worst-affected areas is Canada Park, located near Beit Shemesh, as reported by Caliber.Az, citing Israeli media.

In response to the escalating situation, several countries are dispatching firefighting aircraft to assist Israel in battling the blazes. Cyprus, Croatia, Italy, and Greece have already dispatched their firefighting planes.

While France had previously offered to send two Canadair aircraft, the Israeli Foreign Ministry has informed Paris that international assistance from France is not currently needed. Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether aircraft from Romania and Ukraine—nations that had earlier agreed to provide support—will arrive, with no official confirmation as of now.

The fires continue to pose a significant threat to forests and communities in the region as firefighting efforts intensify.

By Sabina Mammadli