Israel: The government of Israel is mulling calling for international assistance in battling a massive wildfire that has been raging over the past two days near Jerusalem, according to an official statement. By the Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

Bennett instructed Public Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev and the National Security Council "to consider appealing for international assistance in extinguishing the fires. He also ordered the army to give "all necessary assistance to the firefighting and rescue efforts", including sending more military aircraft to help contain the fire, according to reports.

Some 45 firefighting teams and 10 aircraft were already battling the blaze, according to a statement issued by the Fire and Rescue Services. Israel's state-owned Kan Radio reported that more than 17 square km of the forest has been scorched so far. At least 10,000 people have been shifted from their homes in the Jerusalem area, a spokesperson with the city police said in a statement. The fire broke out on Sunday amid a combination of hot, dry and windy weather, the reason of which is yet to be determined.

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