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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 573

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2,900 acres said to burn; winds, darkness complicate efforts

163 crews battle Jerusalem-area fire which official says may be Israel’s largest ever

By Charlie Summers, Emanuel Fabian, Lazar Berman and ToI Staff

IDF helps fire service, police fight wildfires in Jerusalem hills as towns evacuated, Jerusalem-Tel Aviv road closed; dozens suffer smoke inhalation, burns, but nobody seriously hurt

Firefighters try to extinguish a fire that broke out near Mesilat Zion, April 30, 2025. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

Communities evacuated as massive brushfires rage near Jerusalem, Route 1 closed

Yair Netanyahu attends an event after the release of first voting results in the Israeli general elections, at the Likud party headquarters in Tel Aviv, on September 18, 2019. (Gili Yaari/Flash90)

PM’s firebrand son baselessly suggests Israeli left to blame for major blazes

Tissues and a lighter found in the possession of a man suspected of helping ignite the fire raging near Jerusalem, April 30, 2025. (Israel Police)

Arson suspect arrested as authorities probe whether massive fires were started on purpose

By Charlie Summers and ToI Staff

A firefighter looks on as a wildfire rages near Mevo Horon, near Modi'in, April 30, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Israel scrambles for international aid as wildfires rage near Jerusalem

By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff

LiveUpdated 38min ago

Huge fires rage around Jerusalem; Independence Day ceremony canceled, recorded rehearsal screened instead

Fire official says fires ‘may be Israel’s largest ever’ * European countries sending aid * Motorists forced to abandon vehicles as fire hits Route 1 highway * Celebrations nixed nationwide

163 crews battle Jerusalem-area fire which official says may be Israel’s largest ever

By Charlie Summers, Emanuel Fabian, Lazar Berman and ToI Staff

IDF helps fire service, police fight wildfires in Jerusalem hills as towns evacuated, Jerusalem-Tel Aviv road closed; dozens suffer smoke inhalation, burns, but nobody seriously hurt

Communities evacuated as massive brushfires rage near Jerusalem, Route 1 closed

PM’s firebrand son baselessly suggests Israeli left to blame for major blazes

Arson suspect arrested as authorities probe whether massive fires were started on purpose

By Charlie Summers and ToI Staff

Israel scrambles for international aid as wildfires rage near Jerusalem

By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff

LiveUpdated 38min ago

Huge fires rage around Jerusalem; Independence Day ceremony canceled, recorded rehearsal screened instead

Fire official says fires ‘may be Israel’s largest ever’ * European countries sending aid * Motorists forced to abandon vehicles as fire hits Route 1 highway * Celebrations nixed nationwide

The dress rehearsal of Israel's 77th Independence Day ceremony at Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, April 28, 2025. The dress rehearsal was broadcast on television following the live performance's cancellation.(Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Ex-hostages star in recorded Independence Day ceremony after live event canceled

Agam Berger plays violin and Emily Damari lights torch in taping of dress rehearsal that was aired after ceremony called off due to strong winds, which sparked major fires

View of a massive wildfire near Latrun, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, April 30, 2025. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)

Many Independence Day events nixed, public told to avoid cemeteries amid raging wildfires

Most of this year's Independence Day torch-lighters pose for a photo outside the Knesset with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Transportation Minister Miri Regev, April 28, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Independence Day‘Bridges of Hope’: The torch-lighters at Israel’s 77th Independence Day celebration

People stand still to observe two minutes of silence as sirens sound marking Israel's annual Memorial Day at the site of Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas terrorists at the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im, southern Israel, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Op-ed: Day 572 of the war

Israel’s anthem yearns for us ‘to be a free people, in our own land.’ We dare not fail

These past 18 months, we have struggled as never before in our modern history. We let down our guard and our enemies pounced. Worse still, our internal rifts are widening. We can and must heal them if we are to revive

Illustrative: Children play with Israeli flags ahead of Israel's 77th Independence Day at a kindergarten in Moshav Yashresh in central Israel, April 29, 2025. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

Israel’s population tops 10 million for 1st time, on eve of 77th Independence Day

A copy of David Ben-Gurion's diary from May 14, 1948 (Ben-Gurion Archives)

Ben-Gurion diary entries on day of independence revealed: ‘I mourn among the joyful’

People walk at the Mahaneh Yehudah Market in Jerusalem, during Israel's 76th Independence Day on May 13, 2024. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)

As Israel shifts from sorrow to joy, rabbinic group offers new prayer for grieving nation

By Rossella Tercatin

Drafted by Tzohar, the prayer aims to help the public navigate the painful transition from Memorial Day to Independence Day amid ongoing trauma and hostage crisis

The Times of Israel's Those We Have Lost project

ToI podcastWhat Matters Now to The Times of Israel: That all Oct. 7 fallen are remembered

By Amanda Borschel-Dan and Amy Spiro

Cpt. Or Moses was killed on the Zikim base on October 7, 2023. (IDF)

ToI podcastDaily Briefing Apr. 30: Day 572 – IDF commanders who sacrificed themselves to save recruits

By Amanda Borschel-Dan and Emanuel Fabian

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Those we have lost

Stories of the civilians and soldiers who have fallen in the Israel-Hamas war

Those we have lost
Staff Sgt. Nadav Biton, 20: Off-duty soldier was ‘never afraid of anything’

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Maj. Peleg Salem, 30: Career logistics officer and dad of 4 daughters

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Haim Bennaim, 55: Landscape architect and avid cyclist

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Chief Supt. Avi Amar, 54: Hero officer’s final hug caught on film

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Doron and Mor Meyer, 58 & 17: Father and daughter slain together at home

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Sgt. Adir Tahar, 19: Quiet boy who fulfilled dream of joining Golani

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Staff Sgt. Ofir Shoshani, 20: Off-duty soldier ‘with captivating smile’

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Izabella Gandlin, 27: Was slated to marry in October

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Sgt. Shira Shohat, 19: Observation soldier who loved the sea

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Prabesh Bhandari, 24: Nepali student wanted to build house for parents

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Nitikorn Sae Wang, 26: Thai worker who never got to meet his son

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Alisia Levin, 34: Identical twin, sports trainer and single mother of 2

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Maj. Ilay Zisser, 27: Elite unit fighter who had ‘normal dreams’

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Sgt. First Class Yonnatan Savitsky, 21: Fended off Hamas to retake IDF post

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Dan Zomer, 27: Amateur musician’s song to be released in his memory

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Shai Shalev, 50: Youthful father of four was a friend to all

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Sapir Bilmes, 24: Maccabi TLV superfan ‘with endless dreams’

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Hilly Solomon, 26: Dog lover and budding fashion designer

By ToI Staff
Those we have lost
Karin Journo, 24: Danced all night despite her leg cast

By ToI Staff
Those We Have Lost
Moshe Ben Porat, 58: ‘God-fearing man’ slain before grandson’s brit

By ToI Staff

Those we are missing

The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown

Those we are missing
Taken captive: Rom Braslavski, rave guard who saved others

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Nimrod Cohen, twin working to bring him home

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Evyatar David, IDed in a Hamas photo on Telegram

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Alon Ohel, pianist’s family recorded song for him

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Maxim Herkin, was attending his first trance rave

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Edan Alexander, told mother he was safe

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Ziv Berman, from his home in Kfar Aza’s young generation neighborhood

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Segev Kalfon, last seen running across Highway 232

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Bar Kupershtein, last seen tied up by Hamas

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Matan Zangauker ‘is a survivor’

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Eitan Mor, guard at rave who helped save others

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: David Cunio, abducted from burning house

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Gali Berman, from Kfar Aza’s ‘young neighborhood’

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Informal educator Eitan Horn visiting from Kfar Saba

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Avinatan Or, planning to move in with girlfriend

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Tamir Nimrodi, walked by gunmen to base gate

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Pinta Nattapong, saving up for a coffee shop

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Ariel Cunio told brother ‘We are in a horror film’

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Omri Miran, driven in his own car to Gaza

By ToI Staff
Those we are missing
Taken captive: Elkana Bohbot, young son asking, ‘Where’s Daddy?’

By ToI Staff

Tales of the Times

The quirky, improbable, infuriating and uplifting

Alive, again
Netta Barzilai gives new life to ‘Chai’ in Independence Day music video

By Zev Stub
Laughable politics
Jewish far-right TV host in France rules out possible presidential run

By Stuart Williams
Location scouting
Quentin Tarantino buys $13.8 million property in Tel Aviv

By Zev Stub
Chai Chai Chai
AI to revive Ofra Haza, other deceased singers for Independence Day

By ToI Staff
Unity without politics
Families of ‘Beautiful 6’ murdered hostages organize evening of song

By Jessica Steinberg
Udder confusion
Could FDA changes cause observant US Jews to sour on uncertified milk?

By PHILISSA CRAMER
Hat-Trick
‘Trump 2028’ merchandise for sale on US president’s store

By AFP
'Dinner with Adolf'
Larry David skewers Bill Maher’s sit-down with Trump in NYT essay

By Andrew Silow-Carroll
Comedy born behind bars
Award-winning show about comic jailed as a teen comes to Netflix

By Jessica Steinberg
Stamp of approval
How ‘Lincoln’ in a kippah made a $250,000 deal on ‘Shark Tank’

By Grace Gilson
Can it fill the hole?
‘New Absolute Bagel’ sign stirs fretful optimism in New York City

By Jackie Hajdenberg
Power ballad
Five for Fighting serenades ‘Superhero’ Alon Ohel, other hostages

By ToI Staff
Kicking it
Soccer star Haaland calls freed hostage and mega fan Omer Shem Tov

By ToI Staff
A Passover miracle
Dog abducted from murdered hostage’s family found by IDF

By ToI Staff
ChatGPT CV
Israel tops list of countries with highest self-reported AI skills

By Sharon Wrobel
On thin ice
With NHL playoffs at stake, Israeli-American rookie jumps in

By AP
Firework
Katy Perry part of all-female crew launched to space by Bezos firm

By Marcia Dunn
Book time
Bernard-Henri Lévy to open Writers Fest, Book Forum in Jerusalem in May

By Jessica Steinberg
Gnawing at the problem
Jewish New York City mayor candidate vows to tackle rats

By Luke Tress
Real-time footage
‘#Nova’ film, about Oct. 7 atrocities, arrives on Prime Video

By Jessica Steinberg

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