Four planes from the 'Elad' aerial firefighting squadron were scrambled to a blaze at Kerem Chamami farm in Gush Etzion, Judea and Samaria, Monday evening. Residents reported the fire was set deliberately and alleged that Arab individuals were granted an unusual IDF permit to move through the area, according to reports. The claims have not been independently verified.
In an update Monday evening, four firefighting planes from the national 'Elad' aerial squadron were scrambled to the Kerem Chamami farm in Gush Etzion, Judea and Samaria, as the blaze continues to advance. The fire was first reported at 13:44 Jerusalem between the communities of Marom Yehuda and Kerem Chamami, with Incident Commander Lahav Daniel Mizrahi stating that the fire was moving quickly toward the farm over complex terrain. No casualties have been reported.
At 18:14 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that residents of Kerem Chamami alleged the fire was deliberately set and claimed that Arab individuals had been granted an unusual permit by the IDF and security establishment to move through the area 'to process the territories.' These claims have not been independently verified, and no official IDF comment has been reported.
The dispatch of four aircraft from the 'Elad' squadron, which is based at Hatzor Air Force Base under a strategic agreement finalized earlier this year, reflects an escalation in the response to the growing threat to the farm. Firefighting crews continue to work from the ground, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. The residents' allegations regarding the permits remain unverified, and it is not yet known whether the fire is connected to those claims.
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