Israel cancelled its 77th Independence Day celebrations, including the traditional torch-lighting ceremony at Mount Herzl, as massive wildfires swept through the Jerusalem hills on April 30, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, Reuters reported. The blazes, described by Jerusalem District Fire Department Commander Shmulik Friedman as potentially the “largest fire ever in the country,” prompted mass evacuations of at least 10 communities, including Neve Shalom and Mevo Horon, and the closure of the Route 1 highway connecting Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.
The fires, which broke out on Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, disrupted solemn ceremonies and forced the evacuation of a major TV studio mid-broadcast. Transportation Minister Miri Regev cited safety concerns, opting to air a pre-recorded rehearsal of the ceremony. Israel declared a national emergency, deploying 163 fire crews, 12 aircraft, and IDF troops, while Greece and Cyprus sent aid. At least 23 people were treated for smoke-related injuries, with no fatalities reported.
Authorities arrested several suspects for alleged arson, though the fires’ cause remains unclear. The crisis, evoking memories of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, has deepened national unease as Israel battles the blazes.
