Israeli police close roads, evacuate residents as fires spread near Jerusalem

Israeli police on Wednesday closed the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway and evacuated residents along the road as bushfires flared up again in an area devastated by blazes a week ago.

Communities located about 30 kilometers (19 miles) west of Jerusalem were evacuated, Israeli media reported, broadcasting images of firefighting crews battling fierce flames.

High temperatures and strong winds have allowed fires in forested areas to spread quickly, prompting evacuations from at least five communities, police said in a statement.

Police say that they are evacuating Latrun as a fire rages in the area.

The main Route 1 highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv is closed in the area and police call on people to avoid the area. Nearby Route 3 is also closed. pic.twitter.com/LdTOER9VXP

— ILTV Israel News (@ILTVNews) April 30, 2025

Emergency services provider Magen David Adom said in a statement that "at this stage, there are no reported casualties."

Developing: Rescue forces have now blocked Highway 1 following the fire (the main road connecting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv) pic.twitter.com/0pRqIBOysZ

— Breaking News of the Day (@Breakingne66541) April 30, 2025

"Ambulance crews, intensive care units and emergency response vehicles are providing medical support to firefighting operations."

🔥Because it's been a long time since I've seen these settlements..

🔥road 1 to Jerusalem https://t.co/U7NsrCHBUv pic.twitter.com/4MCKHwJ1oF

— Tal Z 🖤⚜ (@TAL_TALZ) April 30, 2025

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who oversees Israel's fire department, said in a statement that he was heading to the affected area, which often sees fires at this time of year.

When fires broke out in the same area last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called for increased measures to extinguish the flames and said they must be stopped before they reached Jerusalem, which eventually happened. /Telegraph