Massive wildfires erupted Wednesday morning in forested areas near Jerusalem, rapidly spreading and prompting urgent action from Israeli authorities.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled readiness to request international support, specifically naming Greece among neighbouring countries that could provide aid.
Speaking at the fire service headquarters, Netanyahu instructed officials to coordinate with Greece and other regional partners if additional resources are needed to combat the escalating fires. “We don’t yet know how this fire will develop,” he said, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding the situation.
Police evacuated residents from several villages approximately 20 kilometres west of Jerusalem, while firefighters were deployed to contain the blaze. According to reports from Agence France-Presse, multiple rescue aircraft were mobilised to the affected areas.
The Israeli police issued a statement detailing the response: “The Israel Police, Border Police, firefighters, rescue services, the Nature and Parks Authority, local security teams, and other emergency services are actively responding to the spread of the wildfires.”
בעקבות שריפה בשטח פתוח: כביש 6 נחסם לתנועת כלי רכב במחלף שורק לצפון ובמחלף נשרים לדרום. אנשים עוזבים רגלית את הרכבים מהכביש בגלל השריפה@noam_goldberg1 pic.twitter.com/mpGyfGmy3q
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) April 23, 2025
As the fires continue to threaten communities near Jerusalem, Israel’s potential outreach to Greece underscores the strong regional cooperation in tackling such crises. Further updates are expected as the situation evolves.