At 11 a.m., a rally in support of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank began on the plateau across from the Sarajevo City Hall.
“Free Palestine”, “Bombing children is not self-defense”, “Terrorists do not have refugee camps”, are just some of the banners that the gathered carry.
“We feel great support in Bosnia and Herzegovina, from all the citizens and peoples of this friendly country, and once again we invite the citizens to join us on Sunday, October 22, at a large rally for peace in Palestine, and against terrorism and the aggression of the Israeli occupying power.” previously they were from the Association of the Palestinian Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Those gathered say that the situation in Gaza and the Israeli narrative strongly remind them of the period of aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the genocide in Srebrenica, the siege of Sarajevo and the terrorizing and shelling of innocent civilians, including children, and the twisting of facts in favor of the aggressors.
“Free free Palestine, Free free Palestine”, echoes in Sarajevo.
Everyone is sending a message that it is urgently necessary to establish peace, i.e. to cease fire from the Israeli side, and to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians who are left without water, electricity and food.
“We want to send a strong message of support to our fellow citizens in the Gaza Strip who are facing brutal crimes and genocide. We want to raise our voices against the killing of children, women, the elderly, the wounded in hospitals, against violence and for peace in Palestine,” the organizers said.
“We demand an end to apartheid against our people and adherence to international agreements,” added the Palestinian Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Gaza is experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis with no electricity, while water, food, fuel and medical supplies are running out.
The fighting began when Hamas launched multiple surprise attacks on October 7 that included numerous rocket attacks and incursions into Israel by land, sea and air.
In response, the Israeli army launched an operation against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, which took on the dimensions of indiscriminate bombing of civilian objects, residential buildings, mosques, churches, and hospitals.
Photo: BHRT/ Lejla Celjo
