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'We're Here to Serve.' Int'l Groups Aid Israelis after Devastating Fires

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JERUSALEM, Israel – For nearly a week, major fires have swept across Israel. Police officials told CBN News arson contributed to a majority of those blazes.

The scope of the fires has been enormous, with more than 75,000 Israelis evacuated from their homes. The flames destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and scorched more than 10,000 acres.

Israel Police Foreign Press Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says Israel's northern port city of Haifa was hardest hit.

"These are the most severe fires that have taken place across the country in four major areas, which altogether was a total of six fires that almost took place simultaneously in the city of Haifa and therefore it was suspicious how the fires began, which led us to believe and led us to carry out operations and find altogether 23 suspects that were involved in fires, not just in Haifa but across Israel as well," Rosenfeld told CBN News.    
 
Surveillance footage caught one arsonist in the act.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeled many of the fires ravaging Israel "arson-terrorism."

Police say three of the four major blazes were deliberately set. Arab social media apparently played a big part as well, fanning the flames of incitement.

"This is a phase which is unfortunately ignited some of the fires," Rosenfeld explained. "We've seen suspects active on social media putting out information calling on others to carry out and start fires."

Several countries sent fire-fighting aircraft and equipment to help douse the flames. Other organizations, like CBN's Operation Blessing International, helped the people who suffered on the ground.

Diego Traverso directs CBN's Operation Blessing Israel.

"Every time there is some emergency, there are some gaps, like small holes, that we can fit in and help the families. In those small gaps we were able to provide some blankets, shoes," Traverso told CBN News Middle East Bureau Chief Chris Mitchell. "Today we're actually heading there again and distributing some food packages for the families."

Traverso says the fires surprised many families.

"They were really devastated. They didn't want to talk, and they were just sitting down going through some old pictures, some burnt pictures, some burnt books; all your memories like you don't have any time to escape," he explained. "So in a matter of seconds, even the house got on fire because the winds were so strong."

Traverso says Operation Blessing aims to help.   

"We're here to serve the community," he said. "No matter if you are Christian, Muslim, [or] Jewish. If you are a human being and in need, you are a brother. You are our brother and we want to help you."

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About The Author

Chris Mitchell
Chris
Mitchell

In a time where the world's attention is riveted on events in the Middle East, CBN viewers have come to appreciate Chris Mitchell's timely reports from this explosive region of the world. Chris brings a Biblical and prophetic perspective to these daily news events that shape our world. He first began reporting on the Middle East in the mid-1990s. Chris repeatedly traveled there to report on the religious and political issues facing Israel and the surrounding Arab states. One of his more significant reports focused on the emigration of persecuted Christians from the Middle East. In the past