Israeli firefighters ‘on verge of collapse’ after 5 days

Smoke rises from a fire that has erupted in southwestern Haifa, Israel on November 24, 2016 [Raanan Cohen / Anadolu Agency]

Smoke rises from a fire that has erupted in Mount Carmel, a coastal mountain range in northern Israel, on November 24, 2016 [Raanan Cohen / Anadolu Agency]

A firefighter plane seen above Mount Carmel, a coastal mountain range in northern Israel, on November 24, 2016 [Raanan Cohen / Anadolu Agency]

An Israeli firefighter seen in a burnt out forest on Mount Carmel area in northern Haifa, Israel on November 25, 2016 [Daniel Bar On / Anadolu Agency]

An Israeli firefighter seen in a burnt out forest on Mount Carmel area in northern Haifa, Israel on November 25, 2016 [Daniel Bar On / Anadolu Agency]

A woman hangs the Israel flag after a forest fire runs through Mount Carmel area in northern Haifa, Israel on November 25, 2016 [Daniel Bar On / Anadolu Agency]

Israeli firefighters warned yesterday that their service network was exhausted due to continuous full-day operations in several parts of the country, with dozens reporting suffering the effects of smoke inhalation, Alresalah has reported.

This morning, a new fire started in the illegal Israeli Jewish settlement of Shilo in the occupied West Bank. This followed a fire breaking out in the Israeli settlement of Halamish, also in the occupied West Bank.

Read: Palestine civil defence to help put out Israel fire

The head of the Israeli National Firefighters Association, Avi Ankori, told Ynet News yesterday that the Israeli firefighting network was exhausted due to continuous operations across the country in their struggle to put out the wildfires engulfing Israel.

“The firefighters have been battling the blaze for five days already, they are on the verge of collapse,” Ankori said.

According to Israeli media, there has been damage to property and some people suffered seriously from the blaze in terms of their health and livelihoods.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed “terror” for the blaze, echoing the words of Israel’s most senior police officer who alleged that the wildfire was “manmade”, suggesting arson.

Meanwhile, a United States Boeing 747 Supertanker arrived in Israel yesterday evening to join Israeli, Italian, Croatian, Russian, Cypriot, Turkish and Palestinian efforts to extinguish the fire.

Read: Arson suspected as Israel seeks help to tackle wildfires

Smoke rises from a fire that has erupted in southwestern Haifa, Israel on November 24, 2016 [Raanan Cohen / Anadolu Agency]

Smoke rises from a fire that has erupted in southwestern Haifa, Israel on November 24, 2016 [Raanan Cohen / Anadolu Agency]

Smoke rises from a fire that has erupted in Mount Carmel, a coastal mountain range in northern Israel, on November 24, 2016 [Raanan Cohen / Anadolu Agency]

Smoke rises from a fire that has erupted in Mount Carmel, a coastal mountain range in northern Israel, on November 24, 2016 [Raanan Cohen / Anadolu Agency]

Smoke rises from a fire that has erupted in Mount Carmel, a coastal mountain range in northern Israel, on November 24, 2016 [Raanan Cohen / Anadolu Agency]

Smoke rises from a fire that has erupted in Mount Carmel, a coastal mountain range in northern Israel, on November 24, 2016 [Raanan Cohen / Anadolu Agency]

Smoke rises from a fire that has erupted in Mount Romema of Haifa city, Israel on November 24, 2016 [Raanan Cohen / Anadolu Agency]

Smoke rises from a fire that has erupted in Mount Romema of Haifa city, Israel on November 24, 2016 [Raanan Cohen / Anadolu Agency]

An Israeli firefighter seen in a burnt out forest on Mount Carmel area in northern Haifa, Israel on November 25, 2016 [Daniel Bar On / Anadolu Agency]

An Israeli firefighter seen in a burnt out forest on Mount Carmel area in northern Haifa, Israel on November 25, 2016 [Daniel Bar On / Anadolu Agency]

An Israeli firefighter seen in a burnt out forest on Mount Carmel area in northern Haifa, Israel on November 25, 2016 [Daniel Bar On / Anadolu Agency]

A burnt building is seen after a forest fire erupted in Mount Carmel area in northern Haifa, Israel on November 25, 2016 [Daniel Bar On / Anadolu Agency]

A burned car is seen after a fire that has erupted in Mount Carmel area in northern Haifa, Israel on November 25, 2016 [Daniel Bar On / Anadolu Agency]

A burned car is seen after a fire that has erupted in Mount Carmel area in northern Haifa, Israel on November 25, 2016 [Daniel Bar On / Anadolu Agency]

Workers are seen on their duty after a fire that has erupted in Mount Carmel area in northern Haifa, Israel on November 25, 2016 [Daniel Bar On / Anadolu Agency]

A woman is seen with wet towel after a fire that has erupted in Mount Carmel area in northern Haifa, Israel on November 25, 2016 [Daniel Bar On / Anadolu Agency]

People are seen inside their burned house after a fire that has erupted in Mount Carmel area in northern Haifa, Israel on November 25, 2016 [Daniel Bar On / Anadolu Agency]

People are seen inside their burned house after a fire that has erupted in Mount Carmel area in northern Haifa, Israel on November 25, 2016 [Daniel Bar On / Anadolu Agency]

Homes burnt by a wild fire that has erupted in Mount Carmel area in northern Haifa, Israel on November 25, 2016 [Daniel Bar On / Anadolu Agency]

Homes burnt by a wild fire that has erupted in Mount Carmel area in northern Haifa, Israel on November 25, 2016 [Daniel Bar On / Anadolu Agency]

Homes burnt by a wild fire that has erupted in Mount Carmel area in northern Haifa, Israel on November 25, 2016 [Daniel Bar On / Anadolu Agency]

Israeli firefighters try to extinguish a fire in a forest that has erupted in Mount Judean of Nataf city, Israel on November 24, 2016 [Muammar Awad / Anadolu Agency]

Israeli firefighter plane tries to extinguish a fire in a forest that has erupted in Mount Judean of Nataf city, Israel on November 24, 2016 [Muammar Awad / Anadolu Agency]

Israeli air force [Muammar Awad / Anadolu Agency]

Smoke rises from the forest fire that has erupted in Mount Judean of Nataf city, Israel on November 24, 2016 [Muammar Awad / Anadolu Agency]

Israeli firefighters try to extinguish a fire in a forest that has erupted in Mount Judean of Nataf city, Israel on November 24, 2016 [Muammar Awad / Anadolu Agency]

Smoke rises from the forest fire that has erupted in Mount Judean of Nataf city, Israel on November 24, 2016 [Muammar Awad / Anadolu Agency]

Israeli firefighters try to extinguish a fire in a forest that has erupted in Mount Judean of Nataf city, Israel on November 24, 2016 [Muammar Awad / Anadolu Agency]

Israeli firefighters try to extinguish a fire in a forest that has erupted in Mount Judean of Nataf city, Israel on November 24, 2016 [Muammar Awad / Anadolu Agency]

Smoke rises from the forest fire that has erupted in Mount Judean of Nataf city, Israel on November 24, 2016 [Muammar Awad / Anadolu Agency]