Israeli Regime Scrambles for Aid as Fires Consume Stolen Land
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Massive wildfires have scorched areas surrounding occupied Al-Quds for a second consecutive day, forcing mass evacuations, closing key roads, and exposing deep flaws in Israel’s emergency preparedness as officials scramble to shift blame.
Wildfires continued to rage near occupied al-Quds on Thursday, with flames consuming vast stretches of land, destroying thousands of acres, and forcing more than 10,000 settlers to evacuate.
The blaze, which began Wednesday, intensified under dry conditions and high winds, threatening to reach the city itself. Major highways were shut down, and panicked residents were seen fleeing, abandoning vehicles as thick smoke filled the air.
Israeli authorities confirmed the evacuation of three settlements and reported injuries from smoke inhalation and burns. No fatalities have been reported.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the fires an emergency and claimed that 18 individuals had been arrested for arson, asserting that one was caught in the act. However, police sources quoted in Hebrew media refuted this, confirming that only three suspects had been detained, none of whom were connected to the major fires near al-Quds.
Ramy Abdu of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor rejected Israeli claims, stating, “Israeli propaganda has chosen to blame its failures on Palestinians.”
Israel appealed for international assistance from Greece, Cyprus, Italy, and Croatia, with some countries agreeing to send firefighting aircraft.
Critics say the fires expose the regime’s long-standing negligence. Dov Ganem, chair of Israel’s Fire and Air Rescue Association, accused the regime of ignoring 18 years of warnings about inadequate wildfire preparedness. He blamed the planting of non-native trees, “solely to cover up the traces of the Nakba,” referring to the forced displacement of Palestinians in 1948.
“It was Netanyahu who chose to spend millions on his private jet instead of investing in essential firefighting capabilities,” Ganem added. “It is the settlers who are repeatedly caught committing arson—racist acts of fire terrorism targeting Palestinian land, homes, and livelihoods.”
The fires led to the cancellation of state events, including Israel’s Independence Day ceremony, which was scheduled in Al-Quds. Emergency services deployed over 120 firefighting units, helicopters, and military personnel in a belated attempt to contain the flames.
The scale of destruction, blamed on policy failure and settler colonial mismanagement, may result in reconstruction costs running into millions of dollars.
