LIVE UPDATES: Firefighters still battling widespread hotspots as Independence Day events begin

As Independence Day celebrations began across Israel, emergency responders continued to battle dozens of active wildfire hotspots, fueled by powerful winds and extreme weather conditions.

In the midst of the escalating crisis, officials have launched an investigation into the possibility that some of the fires may have been deliberately set as part of coordinated arson attacks, following online incitement observed on platforms such as Telegram and X.

During the extinguishing of the fires, 17 firefighters were injured. 1 in the arson attacks in Judea and Samaria, 1 in the south, 3 in the michlalah, 1 in the Dan District, 6 in the Central District and 5 in the Jerusalem area. Two of them had to be evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment, and the rest were treated in the field and returned to activity.

In the meantime, 155 fire crews are still operating at full strength at all the fire sites in the Judean Shephelah area. 119 of them continue to fight the fire in the Jerusalem Hills area in 11 sectors: Sha'ar Hagai, Mesilat Zion, Nataf, Yad Shmona, Neve Ilan, Mevo Horon, Canada Park, Anava to Latrun, Neve Shalom, Burma Road to Eshtaol Forest, Beit Meir and Shoresh.

23 firefighting teams are operating at high intensity in the Beit Meir and Shoresh area with air support, and there are now 10 firefighting planes that assist an operational force in the field. After Israel requested assistance, eight planes will arrive during the day from Cyprus and Italy to help with the firefighting efforts.

In the meantime, access to the following forests, reserves and parking lots is prohibited: Ayalon Canada Park, Eshtaol Forest, Ben Shemen Forest, Shoresh Parking Lots, Hamisha Forest, Burma Road, Neve Ilan, Martyrs Forest, Hulda Forest, Haruvit Forest, Mount of the Wind, Mata, Britannia Park, Adulam Park, HaMaginim Forest, Sataf and Tzora Forest.

The grave suspicion is that the arson was intentionally caused as part of an act of terror, and subsequently, incitement posters distributed on Arab networks yesterday read: "Let the settlers be ashes under your feet." In addition, there were calls to "burn forests near settlements" and "ignite rage and flames of revenge in their homes, homes and vehicles."

At the same time, a 50-year-old Arab from East Jerusalem was arrested while he was planning to set fire to an open field in the south of the city, after a report was received at the police hotline from a civilian that she had identified a man trying to set fire to a vegetation area in the south of Jerusalem. A search of his belongings yielded a lighter, cotton wool and other combustible materials.

Efforts are being made in the security establishment to stop those who incite arson terrorism. Police sources told Channel 14 News that 18 suspects of incitement had been identified and that during the night they had taken action to make arrests. According to the sources, "An anti-incitement team on social media set up by Minister Ben-Gvir worked around the clock today to reach all the supporters of the arson. The police team located some of the inciters, and in the coming hours the police will lay their hands on them. It's not over – everyone who took part in the incitement will be brought to justice."

At first light, the firefighting planes of the Elad Squadron made rounds over the significant locations and near the settlements in order to separate the fire from the houses. At this stage, control has not yet been achieved, but on the orders of the police, all the roads that were closed as a result of yesterday's fire have been opened to traffic.

Following the fires, many communities in the Jerusalem area were evacuated, including: Neve Ilan, Latrun, Shoresh and more. At the same time, arson is also rampant in the south and north. The Israel Police is working to evacuate the vehicles from Highway 1 whose owners fled from them yesterday. According to the Fire and Rescue Commissioner, this is the most significant fire in the past decade.

It was decided this morning (Thursday) to return Hadassah Hospital to full routine activity because there is no danger to the building and its surroundings. An assessment of the situation was carried out with the Ministry of Health's management and fire and rescue officials, in which it was clarified that there was no danger to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.

11:15

The investigation of the fire is still ongoing by the fire and rescue services, and at this stage there are no conclusive findings indicating arson. So far, the investigation indicates that the fire broke out at the point where the fire broke out last week in the Eshtaol Forest, and it is possible that it was a repeat flare-up.

Shmulik Friedman, Commander of the Jerusalem District of the Fire and Rescue Department on Reshet Bet: "There are still dozens of active fire hotspots. The main concern is that towards noon the winds will increase and the fire will return, at least until Saturday we will have to continue working."

11:45

Statement by the Mateh Yehuda

SpokespersonWe would like to inform you that residents of the evacuated communities: Shoresh Kollel Portea Bahar, Neve Ilan, Yad Hashmona, Mesilat Zion, Beit Meir and Nataf are allowed to return to their homes.

JNF: About 20,000 dunams caught fire in the Jerusalem Hills

For the sake of comparison - 25,000 dunams were burned in the fire in the Carmel