Mass evacuations ordered as wildfires engulf Israeli occupation
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Massive wildfires near occupied al-Quds force evacuations, injure Israeli settlers, and prompt "Israel" to declare a national emergency as officials warn of worsening weather and possible arson.
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Israeli firefighters work to extinguish a forest fire burning near occupied al-Quds, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP)
Thick plumes of smoke blanketed highways near occupied al-Quds on Wednesday as fierce wildfires spread across wooded areas, prompting Security Minister Israel Katz to declare a “national emergency.” The brushfires, among the worst in recent years, led to evacuations across multiple illegal settlements and triggered the deployment of Israeli military units to assist firefighters.
The Israeli Magen David Adom (MDA) rescue agency reported that around 23 people were treated, with 13 hospitalized, many suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. The agency also confirmed that the alert level had been raised to its highest.
Footage circulating on social media shows Israeli settlers fleeing occupied #Palestine as fires raged and spread uncontrollably on the outskirts of al-Quds.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) April 30, 2025
The Israeli Fire and Rescue Authority stated that the intensity of the fires, combined with the wind direction in the… pic.twitter.com/2WbWarLzTC
"We are facing a national emergency, and all available forces must be mobilized to save lives and bring the fires under control," Katz said in an official statement.
As flames intensified, police closed the key highway between occupied al-Quds and Tel Aviv, and several settlements were evacuated, including areas previously impacted by fires a week earlier. Eyewitnesses reported widespread panic, with drivers abandoning vehicles and dense smoke consuming roadways near Latrun and Bet Shemesh.
Fire chief Eyal Caspi stated, “We are apparently facing the largest fire in Israel in a decade.” With weather conditions grounding aircraft, the focus shifted to ground efforts aimed at saving lives.
Economic losses
In an initial estimate by Yedioth Ahronoth, the cost of restoration after the major fires could reach hundreds of millions of shekels.
Meanwhile, a senior official in the Ministry of Finance, based on his prior experience, estimated that the cost of reconstruction from the major fires could exceed one billion shekels, depending on the extent of the spread.
Yedioth Ahronoth noted that "the party responsible for funding the damages, whether the state or insurance companies, depends on the results of the fire investigation," adding, "In any case, the state will have to finance the massive damage to infrastructure, roads, and forests, and assist those who are uninsured."
Arson accusations
Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir claimed that arson may be behind the fires. Israeli police later announced the arrest of a resident from occupied East al-Quds caught attempting to ignite a field in the city’s southern area. While no formal link to the major fires was declared, Ben-Gvir said authorities would act against any “arson terror” and maintain vigilance against unrest.
Emergency services positioned ambulance units near threatened communities and deployed a motorcycle team to aid civilians trapped in traffic. Authorities confirmed that at least five settlements were evacuated due to rapidly spreading fires fueled by strong winds and high temperatures.
Ben-Gvir, who oversees the fire department, visited affected areas and said additional resources were being mobilized. He also ordered the cancellation of evening events tied to Thursday's so-called “Independence Day” celebrations to redirect firefighters and equipment to critical zones.
Exchange of accusations over failure
Security sources, speaking to Channel 12, criticized the police and fire services, stating that they "failed, and there is a complete lack of understanding."
The sources added that "they ignored warnings issued by the army regarding the possibility of fires breaking out today."
At the same time, sharp criticism was also directed at National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who, according to Israeli media, "obstructed the purchase of firefighting helicopters that could have helped in dealing with the major fire."
Foreign support sought
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it had contacted several countries, including Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Italy, and Bulgaria, for firefighting support. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that three firefighting aircraft from Italy and Croatia were en route to assist.
Forecasts further warned of worsening conditions as the fires rage on, engulfing Israeli-occupied Palestinian lands.
Why are huge wildfires in Palestine so common?
The Israeli occupation regime's large-scale planting of European pine trees, non-native to Palestine, as part of efforts to reshape the landscape and obscure depopulated Palestinian villages, has significantly contributed to the region’s vulnerability to wildfires.
Unlike native Mediterranean flora, these fast-growing pines are highly flammable, with resinous wood and dense needle litter that ignites easily under dry, hot conditions. As climate change intensifies heatwaves and droughts, these monoculture forests have become tinderboxes, fueling massive, uncontrollable fires across the region and threatening both natural ecosystems and nearby communities.
Footage circulating on social media shows Israeli settlers fleeing occupied #Palestine as fires raged and spread uncontrollably on the outskirts of al-Quds.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) April 30, 2025
The Israeli Fire and Rescue Authority stated that the intensity of the fires, combined with the wind direction in the… pic.twitter.com/2WbWarLzTC
