Fires Not Yet Under Control, Authorities Warn
Firefighters continued to work overnight and into the morning hours on Thursday (1st) to contain the wildfires that spread in the Jerusalem Hills on Wednesday (4/30). Authorities said they have not yet been able to control the flames. Fire-extinguishing aircraft resumed flights attempting to put out flames approaching communities, to form barriers that would prevent the flames from reaching homes.
The fires began at the same point where last week’s forest fire was ignited and officials said that could have been the source of Thursday’s (1st) eruption.
After the government appealed for help from other countries, planes from Greece, Croatia, Romania, France, Spain, and Italy were expected to arrive later in the day.
The Israel Meteorological Service warned Israelis of the danger of fires spreading and urged extra caution as many set out to celebrate Independence Day with picnics in parks and woodlands.
“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’s homes,” on Telegram on Wednesday (30th).
“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 called on Palestinians to “burn the groves near the settlements” in a post on Wednesday (4/30).
As the wildfires continued to burn across central Israel, the channel posted a photo of a masked person setting fire to a field as a town burned in the background, with the text “Settlers homes will be ashes under the feet of the revolutionaries” and the hashtag “Burn settlers’ houses.”
Wildfires raged in the Judean Hills on Wednesday (4/30) 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 we 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’ name for the October 7 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.”
While the Telegram channel Jenin News (320,000 followers) wrote: “Calls for youth to burn forests close to the raped lands…The Zionist entity is burning! This is an opportunity for all of you to increase the fires; youth of Jerusalem and the occupied interior, raise your spirits and make up your mind, their settlements – set them ablaze”
Notably, many Palestinian outlets refer to all Israelis as “settlers” and all cities and towns in the country as “settlements.”
Other posters shared on these channels included calls to “exploit the heat of the summer and set fire to the forest of the settlers. There will be not one settler left in our land,” while others wrote, “ Let’s burn their settlements and make them a living hell…. Don’t underestimate what you have and what you can do.”
Another channel from the Jenin refugee camp uploaded posters showing the Israeli flag burning along with calls to “set fire to the forests of the occupation and its settlements… Kudos to our youth, go and burn, go and burn.”
Some channels even cursed at the Palestinian Authority for offering Israel to help with “the fires of the settlers near the settlements of Al-Quds,” also adding: “Heroes of the West Bank and Jerusalem – this is your day. Exploit these fires and make them grow larger.” “Gasoline and a spark can make the entity a fiery hell . The settlements and their forests are your targets.”
Fire and Rescue Commissioner, Eyal Caspi, announced the authority’s alert level had been raised to the highest level.
An appeal was made by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar for international assistance from neighboring countries Greece, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, and Bulgaria, though assistance was not expected to arrive before nightfall.
All Independence Day performances and activities planned for Wednesday night (4/30) were canceled or postponed across the country due to the fires, the government announced.
Independence Day Opening Torch-Lighting Ceremony
The traditional torch-lighting ceremony that opens the celebrations for the State of Israel’s 77th Independence day was broadcast Wednesday evening (4/30), in a recorded broadcast from Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.
After a situational assessment conducted earlier Wednesday (4/30), it was decided to cancel the live ceremony due to the strong winds and fires, and instead broadcast the dress rehearsal that was recorded in advance on Monday (4/28).
This year’s ceremony was held under the theme of “Bridges of Hope,“ and incorporated musical pieces , dancers, light and sound displays, and innovative artificial intelligence technology through which characters of artists who have passed away appeared.
The ceremony on Mount Herzl symbolizes the transition between the Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism and the Independence Day celebration.
Among those present at the ceremony: The speaker of the Knesset, ministers, MKs, IDF officers, representatives of bereaved families and other invited guests. The ceremony was broadcast live on all major television channels and via other digital means.
Fighting For What Matters: President Herzog’s Message For Israeli Independence Day – Opinion
This year, as we celebrate the blessing of Jewish statehood, we cannot help but be aware, too, of the costs and sacrifices it demands of us. There are many.
Since October 7th , we in Israel have been engaged in a fight for the safety and integrity of our society. So many from across Israel – and communities around the world – are still on the frontlines, fighting the dark force of terror that threatens us all, and defending the very fabric of the free world.
Our hearts break each moment anew at the ongoing atrocity of our sisters and brothers buried deep underground, dead and alive, in a brutal violation of every legal, human, and ethical code. There is no question that we cannot begin to truly heal – nor can we be whole – until every last one of them is freed. At the same time, anti-Semitism has come charging forward in so many forms throughout the globe. It has radically challenged the basic sense of safety of communities everywhere.
But, my friends, there is more to this moment than just grief and pain. Our path is longer, and our purpose broader, than any season of mourning. Alongside the grief for what we have lost, we have also been reminded of the deep resources we carry.
We have seen in this difficult time how much we in Israel, and the global Jewish communities, draw from one another. How deep and unshakeable our bonds are – against any wave of hate and against any trial. How much the sense of belonging, identity, support, and pride means to each of us as individuals, and how profound the mutual gift they offer.
This year, I have met thousands of our brothers and sisters across so many communities and continents. I have watched Jews from every walk of life rise to the challenge and show up in so many different ways – for one another and for Israel. It has inspired and moved me.
As we mark Israeli Independence Day this year, may we listen closely to this gift of our connection – to the privilege and responsibility we have to continue writing our Jewish story, together. And to the eternal calling to keep fighting for what matters – for our hostages, for our ethical legacy, and for our shared future.
I send my deepest personal message of support to each of you, wherever on the globe you may be. May we share many moments of true joy together, and from Jerusalem, I wish you all a Happy Independence Day.
Israel Defends Syrian Druze With Airstrike On Extremist Group Near As-Suweida
The IDF struck a gathering of an extremist group in Syria that was reportedly preparing to continue attacks against the Druze population in the town of As-Suweida in Syria’s Damascus Governorate on Wednesday (4/30).
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced in a joint statement on Wednesday: “Israel will not allow harm to come to the Druze community in Syria, out of a deep commitment to our Druze brothers in Israel, who are tied by family and historical bonds to their Druze brothers in Syria,” the statement read.
The statement also added that Israel intends to send a strong message to the new Syrian government that it is expected to prevent harm to the Druze community.
The strikes coincided with Remembrance Day in Israel, during which Israel commemorates the fallen. Katz and Netanyahu’s statement mentioned the “great contribution of the Druze community to Israel’s security and the Druze who gave their lives in defense of the State of Israel.”
In return, Israel sees “great importance in fulfilling our commitment to the Druze community in Israel and in protecting their brothers in Syria.”
Hegseth Warns Iran: You Will Pay The Consequences For Supporting The Houthis
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday (4/30) warned Iran that it would pay the consequences for its continued support for the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
“Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing,” Hegseth wrote in a post on X.
“You know very well what the US Military is capable of – and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCES at the time and place of our choosing,” he added.
The US Army launched a military campaign against the Houthi rebels in mid-March.
On Tuesday (4/29), the pentagon announced that the United States has conducted over a thousand airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since the start of the campaign.
According to a statement from Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, “US CENTCOM strikes have hit over 1,000 targets, killing Houthi fighters and leaders…and degrading their capabilities.”
Earlier this week, CENTCOM reported that the number of targets struck since March 15 stood at over 800, with hundreds of Houthi combatants killed during the operations.
President Donald Trump recently stated that the Houthis would be “completely annihilated” and added that Iranian support would only impede but not stop the Houthis’ destruction.
It has long been believed that Iran is planning to use the Houthis to take over Yemen and seize the key strategic port of Aden, which controls the entrance to the Red Sea and ultimately to the Israeli resort city of Eilat.
Iran has denied accusations that it provided the Houthi rebels with ballistic capabilities, even after the US Navy seized an Iranian weapons shipment bound for Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Senate Republicans Propose Cut To UN Funding Over Anti-Israel Actions
A group of Republican senators introduced legislation on Wednesday (4/30) that would strip US funding from United Nations agencies found to be discriminating against Israel, following what lawmakers describe as a growing wave of anti-Semitism within the international body.
The legislation, titled the Stand with Israel Act, was introduced by Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and co-sponsored by over 20 other Senate Republicans.
The bill seeks to cut US taxpayer dollars to any UN entity that “expels, downgrades, suspends, or otherwise restricts the participation” of Israel.
“Israel is one of America’s greatest allies, and under President Trump’s Administration, we will no longer tolerate—much less fund—the blatant anti-Semitism at the United Nations,” said Sen. Risch in a statement announcing the bill. “This bill will send a clear message to the UN and any other anti-Semitic international organization: if you want America’s money, you’ll need to respect our Israeli friends. America will always stand with Israel.”
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) , one of the bill’s co-sponsors, added, “For too long, the United Nations has allowed anti-Semitism to fester in its ranks while taking billions from American taxpayers. The Stand with Israel Act sends a clear message that America stands with Israel – and will hold the UN accountable.”
Other senators pointed to specific concerns, including the involvement of UN workers in Hamas’ October 7 terror attack on Israel.
“Not only has the United Nations become a breeding ground for anti-Semitism, but its own staffers helped plan and execute Hamas’ October 7th terrorist attacks on Israel that killed Americans,” said Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) . “Our tax dollars should not be used to fuel hate, and especially not to fund terrorism.”
In addition to blocking funds to discriminatory agencies, the bill aims to reassert US commitment to Israel’s legitimacy and its right to full participation in international institutions.
The bill also received backing from Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), who blasted the UN for passing what he called a “biased resolution” in favor of the Palestinian Authority. “President Trump is sending a message to the global community that American taxpayer dollars will not be used against us or our allies, or to fuel terror around the world,” he said.
