ATTACKS IN ISRAEL – The death toll of the attacks launched against Israel by the Palestinian military group Hamas has reached at least 350 and over 1,500 wounded. Israel has launched a military retaliation in Gaza, which killed over 300 people and wounded another 2,000. As fighting continues, Israel decided to cut off supplies of electricity, fuel and goods to the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah launched mortar fire from southern Lebanon, while the Israeli forces responded with artillery fire. Palestinian groups also operate in southern Lebanon, although the area is control by the Hezbollah Shiite militias. Hezbollah boasts a considerable missile arsenal threatening northern Israel, as well as seasoned fighters who fought in the war in Syria on the side of president Bashar al-Assad.
ROMANIANS IN ISRAEL – In the wake of the attacks, 346 Romanian and foreign citizens were transported to Romania onboard two flights operated by the national airline TAROM, the Romanian Foreign Ministry has announced. Groups of Romanian pilgrims are still in Tel Aviv and have received accommodation and assistance with support from the Israeli authorities and the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate, which are looking for solutions to bring them home. Romanian citizens in Israel can contact the Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv to announce their presence in the region, while the Foreign Ministry has advised everyone to postpone their travel plans for this country. Meanwhile, Wizz Air has cancelled all flights in and out of Tel Aviv for Sunday, announcing they would reschedule the trips or provide refunds and accommodation to passengers. Wizz Air recommends people should contact their travel agents or check online platforms to modify their already-booked tickets. Approximately 900 Romanians, mostly pilgrims, are currently in Israel, none of whom are currently in difficulty, the authorities say. On Saturday, Bucharest firmly condemned the attacks of Hamas. In a press release, the Romanian Foreign Ministry referred to Israels sovereign right to defend itself, also issuing a travel alert for this country, advising Romanians to cancel their travels to this country, or in case of people already on the ground, to follow instructions from local authorities, take shelter in buildings and leave the country when the situation allows it.
REFUGEES – Approximately 223 thousand people, both Romanian and foreign nationals, and some 58 thousand vehicles crossed Romanias borders on Saturday, the Border Police General Inspectorate reports. 10,853 Ukrainian citizens crossed into Romania on Saturday, taking the total number of Ukrainian nationals who entered Romania starting February 10, 2022, two weeks before the Russian army invaded their country, to 6,310,870.
VISIT – Romanias president, Klaus Iohannis, currently on a visit to Portugal, is meeting Prime Minister António Costa, Assembly Speaker Augusto Santos Silva and members of Parliament on Monday. On Saturday, Klaus Iohannis held talks with his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, focusing on the war in Ukraine. On this occasion, president Iohannis thanked Portugal for its substantial contribution to NATOs deterrence and defense posture on the Alliances Eastern Flank. “The presence of Portuguese servicemen in Romania is a strong expression of Portugals solidarity and support for strengthening Romanias security”, the Romanian official said. In turn, president de Sousa said his country supports Romanias efforts to join Schengen and the OECD.
MEETING – Labor Minister Simona Bucura-Oprescu will lead Romanias delegation attending the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council hosted by Luxembourg on Monday. According to the European Commission, the agenda will focus on the 2023 European Semester, social economy, mental health and precarious work, social protection and access to housing. With regard to the European Semester, EU ministers will discuss the impact of new technologies on labor and a just digital transition. The Council also plans to endorse key messages on employment and social challenges by the Employment Committee and the Social Protection Committee, and ministers will be invited to adopt the 2023 employment guidelines for the member states.
PILGRIMAGE – The traditional annual pilgrimage to the reliquary of Saint Paraskeva of the Balkans, a major Saint in the Romanian orthodox tradition, continues in Iași, northeastern Romania. Tens of thousands of pilgrims from Romania and beyond and expected to pray before the shrine to Saint Paraskeva, celebrated on October 14 in Romania. (VP)
