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Massive wildfires rage across Jerusalem hills; Israel requests international aid

Almost Heaven

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A fire broke out Wednesday morning, on Israel's Memorial Day, in a forest near Beit Shemesh. Firefighting teams are working at the scene after authorities declared an emergency, triggering nationwide assistance mobilization, including aircraft, reinforcement teams from additional districts, and logistical support.

The Israel Police commissioner was forced to leave the national memorial ceremony for victims of terror attacks due to the fire emergency and is making his way to the command post.

The Israel Fire and Rescue Services has raised its alert level to maximum. Following situational assessments directed by the Israel Police commissioner, emergency protocols have been activated, with firefighting teams being mobilized across all districts nationwide. Vehicles and equipment have been deployed, and the Israel National Special Rescue Unit has been activated at full strength on nationwide alert.

After officials requested international assistance, Greece, Croatia, Italy, and Cyprus are expected to deploy firefighting resources to help combat the spreading wildfires.
Numerous firefighting teams from the Beit Shemesh area are currently battling a developing forest fire in Eshta'ol Forest. Strong winds in the area are contributing to the rapid spread of the flames. Firefighters are working determinedly to contain the fire and prevent its spread toward forested and populated areas.
 

'All you have to do is burn': Hamas calls to set fires in Jerusalem, West Bank​


Hamas posted a message encouraging Palestinians to "burn whatever you can of groves, forests, and settler homes," on Telegram on Wednesday.

"Youth of the West Bank, youth of Jerusalem, and those inside Israel, set their cars ablaze... Gaza awaits the revenge of the free," the terrorist organization wrote.

Earlier, the Jenin News Network Telegram channel called on Palestinians to "burn the groves near the settlements" in a post on Telegram on Wednesday.

As the wildfires continue to burn across central Israel, the channel posted a photo of a masked person setting fire to a field as a town burns in the background, with the text "Settlers' homes will be ashes under the feet of the revolutionaries" and the hashtag "Burn settlers' houses."

The wildfires broke out in the Judean Hills on Wednesday morning and spread across the Jerusalem area as the day continued.
“O, youth of the West Bank,” called one inciting video. “Let us be the flame of freedom which will not die. Let us make their night - a burning day. Let us bring back to them the nightmares of the occupation, so they know that every day is a struggle for the resistance. Set fires of freedom everywhere. We will not give in and will not give up until we burn every piece of stolen land.”

On social media, the fires were also branded as “Flames of the Flood,” echoing Hamas’s name for the October 7th massacre, “Flood of Al-Aqsa”.

Palestinian news channel “Akhbar Filastin” tweeted on their X account (112,000 followers): “A call to the revolutionary youth and all the heroes of the West Bank.. Settlers' homes and the surrounding areas are your target. Burn them with your Molotov cocktails and set fire to the grass near the settlement outposts.”
 

Arson suspect arrested as authorities probe whether massive fires were started on purpose​


An arson suspect was arrested Wednesday, as authorities were probing whether major brush fires west of Jerusalem were started intentionally and as calls appeared on Palestinian social media to start more blazes. However, authorities said Wednesday evening it was too early to determine the cause of the fires.

A 50-year-old resident of East Jerusalem’s Umm Tuba neighborhood was arrested on suspicion of attempting to set fire to vegetation in southern Jerusalem, police said.

Law enforcement carried out the arrest after receiving a tip that someone had seen a person attempting to start a fire, a police spokesman said. The suspect was detained for questioning at the Oz police station in East Jerusalem.

Police said the suspect attempted to flee from police officers but was nabbed after a brief pursuit. Cops said they found a lighter, cotton wool and other flammable materials on his person.

The arrest coincided with calls made by Palestinians on social media to carry out arson attacks on Israel during the country’s Independence Day, whose eve coincided this year with a heatwave combined with strong winds that caused the blazes to spiral out of control and resulted in many communities being evacuated and many festive events being called off.

 
The Police chief orders large-scale security deployment to stop Palestinian arson as Israel grapples with a major wildfire crisis. The commissioner ordered the deployment of police officers and 14,000 members of the emergency brigades - to prevent arson these attacks.

5 Palestinian Arabs have been arrested so far.

 
Good News:
The fire near Jerusalem is finally under control!


THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS! THE GOD OF ISRAEL SHOWED UP AGAIN!
“For I am the Lord, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” (Malachi 3:6)

 
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