Radio România Internațional

Tag: Gaza Strip

  •  One year since the October 7 attacks

     One year since the October 7 attacks

    Israel commemorates  the victims of last year’s unprecedented attack by the Islamist organization Hamas.

     

    Israel marks one year since the October 7 attack by Hamas, the bloodiest in the country’s history and which triggered the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. On that day commandos of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, penetrated to southern Israel, using explosives and bulldozers to pass the barrier that surrounds the Palestinian territory, randomly killing people in kibbutzim, in military bases and at the site of a music festival, on a Jewish religious holiday. The surprise attacks were not directed against an army, as in conventional warfare. Hamas militants took their anger out on civilians.

     

    On that fateful day, hundreds of innocent people died, massacred in their own homes, on the street, or in their cars. The terrorists shot everything that moved around them. Almost 1,200 Israelis were killed in a single day. The brutality shown by Hamas was unprecedented. It was just the beginning of the disaster. Thousands of rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip in a short period of time, and the famous “Iron Dome” anti-aircraft shield could not cope with the pace of the strikes. Cities such as Ashkelon, Ashdod or Tel Aviv strongly felt the impact of the shells. As a result, the Israeli military launched a forceful intervention to eliminate the danger.

     

    Although it managed to stop the Hamas incursion, the army failed to rescue on time 251 civilians taken hostage. Subsequently, the Israeli army launched a strong offensive against the Palestinian territory, with the objective of destroying Hamas, in power since 2007, an organization designated as a terrorist group by the United States and the EU.

     

    The paralysis, on October 7, 2023, for more than eight hours, of the Israeli military’s ability to respond to aggression is still inexplicable. The operation had been secretly prepared for two years and the Israeli intelligence services said they were not aware of the existence of such a plan. In retaliation, Israel vowed to annihilate the Hamas organization. Since the beginning of the war until today, hundreds of Israeli soldiers have lost their lives.

     

    Israel’s objective to destroy Hamas has had an enormous impact on civilians and infrastructure in the Palestinian enclave, one of the most densely populated areas in the world. This ongoing war has killed more than 41,000 people, mostly civilians, according to Hamas, and triggered a major humanitarian crisis.

     

    The expansion of the Israeli colonies to the Palestinian territories, the isolation of the Arab population in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip by erecting separation walls, the strong social exclusion of the Palestinians in the Israeli society, the ethnic segregation in the government institutions and the lack of equal opportunities fuelled the inter-ethnic conflict.

     

    The magnitude of the October 7 attack has been fuelling division and hatred around the world: virulent demonstrations, extreme polarization and an explosion of anti-Semitic acts, to the point where European and American officials recently evoked at the UN “a tsunami of anti-Semitism” in the last year.

     

  • January 2, 2024

    January 2, 2024

    PRICE HIKES The new year has brought a
    series of fiscal amendments to the Romanians, ranging from new VAT rises to other
    majored excises and taxes. Fines have also been raised, and companies reporting
    over 50 million euros in turnover will pay taxes of at least one percent of
    their turnover. Tobacco excises have been raised and there are VAT raises
    between 9 and 19 % for certain products and services. A special tax has been
    introduced for expensive goods, such as houses and cars as well as raised
    excises for sweet products. Fuel excises have also been raised and experts
    believe the new fiscal measures will translate into a higher inflation and a depreciated
    local currency against the Euro. Romania’s budget deficit this year has been
    estimated at 5% of the GDP with an economic growth of 3.4%. 7% of the country’s
    GDP has been earmarked for investment.






    QUAKE Authorities in Japan are in
    a battle against time in their attempt to find survivors after the 7.6
    magnitude earthquake on Monday, which was followed by many aftershocks.
    According to provisional tolls, scores have been killed and hundreds of
    buildings destroyed. Numerous fires caused by broken pipelines have been
    reported in the north of the Noto peninsula, close to the quake’s epicenter. As
    temperatures went below zero at night, rescuers are making great efforts to
    find survivors.






    GAZA Israel has pulled out its
    tanks from some parts of the Gaza city announcing a new stage in its war
    against the terrorist group Hamas. The new change in Israel’s tactics involves
    the partial pull out of its troops from the Gaza Strip and an increased focus
    on smaller-scale targeted operations. Israel says one of the key objectives is
    the complete elimination of the Hamas threat and the release of the hostages
    still kept by the famous terrorist group. According to Radio Romania
    correspondent in Israel, the attempts to release the Israeli hostages, which seemed
    to be compromised at a certain point, have these days been given a fresh
    impetus thanks to the mediation efforts of Qatar and Egypt. The war in Gaza,
    which broke out after the attack on Israel masterminded and conducted by the
    terrorist group Hamas on October 7, when 12 hundred people were killed and 240
    kidnapped, has so far caused the death of roughly 22 thousand Palestinians in
    the Gaza Strip. At the same time, most of the region’s 2.3 million people
    residents has been displaced.






    WEATHER The
    weather remains warm in Romania with temperatures higher than those usually
    registered at this time of the year. Showers have been reported in small areas
    in the country’s south-east. Wind has intensified at higher altitudes in the
    mountainous area of the Eastern and Western Carpathians. The highs of the day
    are ranging between 4 and 12 degrees Celsius while the capital city Bucharest
    reports higher temperatures than usual for the winter season, of at least 10-11
    degrees Celsius.




    (bill)

  • October 20, 2023

    October 20, 2023

    Summit. The transformation of Romanias economy into a green and digital one is a long-term process, which requires a strong national plan and must be assumed by all political, business and civic forces, the Romanian Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, told the participants in the second “Climate Change Summit”. According to him, mitigating the effects of climate change in the short, medium and long term is a priority for the Bucharest Executive. He also stated that in collaboration with the private sector, solutions for the future can be developed, so that Romania in 2030 will be better prepared to deal with climate challenges. For his part, the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, stated that the impact of climate change is global and appreciated the fact that part of the Summit is taking place in universities. He stressed that young people must have opportunities to participate in the process of decarbonization and acceleration of the green transition.



    Schengen. The European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, says that the good results obtained by Romania and Bulgaria in the management of pilot projects on migration are an additional argument in favor of the accession of the two states to the European Free Movement Area – Schengen. The statement was made at the Home Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg. Several countries supported the entry of Romania and Bulgaria into Schengen. Austria and the Netherlands, which opposed the accession last December, did not present any argument.



    Aid. The National Committee for Emergency Situations in Romania has decided to grant support to the population of the Gaza Strip. The humanitarian aid will consist, among other things, of food, water, beds, mattresses and tents. The transport will be provided with the support of the Romanian Ministry of Defense and international organizations, the Romanian Government has announced.



    Bonuses. The Bucharest government will adopt, in todays meeting, the decision by which career bonuses will be granted for teaching and auxiliary staff, as well as professional career bonuses for non-teaching staff in the state education system, supported by non-refundable external funds. These are the amounts promised by the Executive during the teachers strike in May, of 1,500 lei (the equivalent of 300 euros), and 500 lei respectively (100 euros). Also today, the Government will approve the National Health Strategy for the next seven years.



    Israel. Israel will evacuate the city of Kyriat Shmona, on the northern border with Lebanon, threatened by the strikes of the pro-Iranian Islamist group Hezbollah, the Israeli army announced today, quoted by international news agencies. According to the source, about 25,000 residents will move “in reception houses, financed by the state”. On the eve, the army reported an attack with anti-tank rocket launchers from the Lebanese territory and responded by attacking “Hezbollah infrastructure”. Air raids were also launched against the Islamists. Since the start of the war triggered by an unprecedented attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, clashes on the Israeli-Lebanese border have left around twenty dead on the Lebanese side, mostly fighters, as well as a Reuters journalist and two civilians. On the Israeli side, at least three people were killed.



    Ukraine. Ukrainian troops are facing fresh attacks by the invading Russian army in the largely destroyed eastern town of Avdiivka and are making progress in their counteroffensive on the southern front, senior military officials in Kiyiv say, quoted by international news agencies. The commander of the Ukrainian army, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi says that “the enemy keeps attempting to break through our defenses and surround” Avdiivka. According to the source, the Russians are bringing new assault and armored units there and striking with aviation and artillery. In the south, the Ukrainians claim to have advanced 400 meters near the village of Verbove, in the Zaporizhzhia region.



    Theater. The 23rd edition of the National Theater Festival begins in Bucharest today. The official opening will take place at the National Theater and will be followed by the first performance of the guest show “Catarina and the Beauty of Killing Fascists” from Portugal. The festival will last 11 days and will offer the public 30 productions from Romania and three foreign shows. The program also includes debates, conferences, exhibitions, book launches, reading and radio shows, as well as creative workshops and meetings with artists. (MI)


  • October 7, 2023 UPDATE

    October 7, 2023 UPDATE

    PILGRIMAGE – The annual pilgrimage
    to the relics of Saint Parascheva, the largest religious pilgrimage in Romania,
    started Saturday morning in Iasi, eastern Romania. The feast of St. Parascheva
    is celebrated every year on October 14. People go to pray at the Metropolitan
    Cathedral in Iaşi, where the relics are kept. The coffin carrying the Saint’s
    relics was taken out of the Metropolitan Cathedral early Saturday and placed on
    a large table decorated with flowers in the cathedral’s courtyard. Tens of
    thousands of believers from Romania and abroad take part in this annual
    pilgrimage.






    ATTACK – Israel and the Gaza Strip are
    at war again, after the Hamas group on Saturday launched a surprise military
    offensive, firing thousands of rockets and infiltrating fighters into the
    Israeli territory. Previously, the leader of the armed wing of the Palestinian
    movement had announced the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. The attack, that
    made numerous victims, attracted many international reactions, including from
    Romania, which firmly condemned it. Our thoughts go to the families of
    the victims and to those who are attacked, President Klaus Iohannis wrote
    on Twitter. The State of Israel will win every time in the face of terror
    and those who try to destroy it, the president of the Federation of
    Jewish Communities in Romania, MP Silviu Vexler, said. The Romanian Foreign
    Affairs Ministry emphasized the sovereign right of the state of Israel to
    self-defense. At the same time, the ministry raised the travel alert level for
    Israel, Romanians being advised to reschedule their trips to the area or, if
    they are already there, to follow the instructions of the local authorities,
    take shelter in buildings and leave the country when the situation allows it.
    Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said that the Romanian authorities are looking
    for solutions to bring home as quickly as possible approximately 790 Romanians
    who are on pilgrimage to Israel.






    WAR – The armed branch of the
    Palestinian group Hamas stated, on Saturday evening, that its fighters are
    still engaged gun battles in 25 locations in Israel. According to the Israeli
    authorities, at least a hundred people were killed by the Palestinian fighters
    who entered the country. In the Gaza Strip, the response of the Israeli army
    has allegedly caused about 200 deaths and over 1,600 wounded, according to the
    Ministry of Health of the so-called Hamas administration. Under the cover of
    thousands of rockets, Palestinian militants infiltrated Israel using
    motorcycles, paragliders and boats. The Israeli radio reported that 35
    Israeli soldiers were kidnapped and taken to Gaza. According to Radio Romania’s
    correspondent in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video
    message that his country is at war.






    VISIT – Romania’s President, Klaus
    Iohannis, discussed, on Saturday, in Lisbon, with his Portuguese counterpart,
    Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, about the war in neighboring Ukraine, in which context
    he thanked the Portuguese authorities for their country’s substantial
    contribution, with troops, to the consolidation of NATO’s deterrence and
    defense posture on the eastern flank. The presence of the Portuguese
    military in Romania is a strong signal of Portugal’s solidarity with and
    support for the consolidation of Romania’s security, President Iohannis
    said. Talks also focused on the increased security risks in the Black Sea
    region, as a result of the numerous Russian attacks on the Ukrainian ports on
    the Danube, aimed to impact Ukraine’s ability to export its agricultural
    products Iohannis said, adding that additional defense measures were taken
    through NATO and that the protection of the Romanian territory and citizens is
    ensured.






    BUDGET
    – This autumn’s budget revision will take place after the Constitutional Court
    rules on the fiscal-budgetary measures for which the Government has recently
    assumed responsibility, PM Marceal Ciolacu said. He specified that the budget
    revision is urgent, because the Ministry of Transport in particular needs
    substantial sums for the co-financing of large infrastructure projects, given
    that the Executive’s priority is to absorb more than 95% of the European funds.
    The Romanian PSD-PNL ruling coalition assumed responsibility, in Parliament,
    for a thorough fiscal-budgetary reform, with the purpose of reducing budget
    spending and ensure the long-term sustainability of the country’s finances. A
    part of the opposition is against the new measures and notified the Constitutional
    Court.




    PARIS – Romania’s national rugby team
    will play, on Sunday, October 8, against Tonga, in Lille (north), their last
    match in Group B of the World Cup in France. In the first three games, Romania
    lost to Ireland, South Africa, and Scotland.
    (EE)