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As Israel faces what may be the worst wildfire in its history, the Israeli ambassador to Cyprus took to social media with a heartfelt message of thanks:
“Our deepest gratitude to our neighbor and close friend, Cyprus, for being the first country to send a firefighting helicopter and team to Israel to assist in battling the wildfires near Jerusalem. Our longstanding collaboration in combating wildfires has once again proven its effectiveness. Cyprus' swift solidarity means a great deal and demonstrates the strength of our relationship,” wrote Ambassador Oren Anolik on X.
Photo courtesy Israeli Ambassador to Cyprus, Oren Anolik on X
The gesture came as Israel declared a national emergency over the massive blazes that erupted near the town of Mesilat Zion, just west of Jerusalem. What began as a wildfire has quickly spiraled into a national crisis, fanned by fierce winds reaching up to 100 km/h and dry conditions.
Israel's Fire and Rescue Service has described the blaze as possibly the largest the country has ever seen. "We are amidst a very large wildfire, maybe the largest there has ever been in this country," said Jerusalem District commander Shmulik Friedman. "We are far from having control."
Scenes on the ground are alarming: highways swallowed in smoke, drivers abandoning their vehicles, and entire communities being evacuated. The military has been called in to help fight the flames, and Israel’s emergency medical service, Magen David Adom, has already treated 23 people while warning that hundreds remain at risk.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didn’t mince words either, calling the wildfire “a national danger,” not just a local emergency. “This wave of fires is a threat to human life, to communities and to Jerusalem,” he said. “The priority right now is defending Jerusalem.”
In the face of such chaos, Cyprus’ quick action has not gone unnoticed. A firefighting helicopter and team were dispatched almost immediately following the request for help, reinforcing the strong bilateral cooperation between the two neighbors, particularly when it comes to tackling natural disasters.
While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, for now the focus remains squarely on containing the flames and keeping people safe.
*With information from the Guardian and X
