Oct 28, 2024 — Hundreds of Bosnian citizens gathered in Sarajevo on Sunday for a peaceful march in support of Palestine, voicing solidarity amidst escalating violence in the Middle East. Organised by a local citizen group alongside the Palestinian Embassy and community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the rally underscored widespread concern over the crisis.
Participants assembled at Sarajevo’s Sebilj Fountain, moving along the city’s bustling main promenade before concluding at Bosnia and Herzegovina Square. With Palestinian flags waving alongside those of Bosnia and Lebanon, the crowd voiced their support in chants of solidarity, highlighting the deadly toll of recent attacks, particularly in Gaza.
One organiser, Safija Tadefi, described the march as “the seventh rally in support of the Palestinian people” since October last year. She noted that over 40,000 civilians, including 17,000 children, have lost their lives amid the conflict. “We stand with the Palestinian people,” Tadefi said, calling the events in Gaza “genocide” and describing “ethnic cleansing” across Palestinian territories.
Fellow organiser Amer El Mordeha, born in Sarajevo to a Palestinian father who fled Jaffa as a child, remarked that “this barbarism and genocide will not go unpunished,” likening the suffering of Palestinians to historical struggles against oppression. “Just as we defeated the Nazis, we will prevail here too. The truth will come to light.”
The Palestinian community in Bosnia had encouraged citizens to join the demonstration, urging Sarajevo to be “the voice for those silenced.” “Bosnia chooses the side of justice,” the community said, calling for action against what it sees as an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The rally comes as part of a wave of solidarity demonstrations in various cities, with organisers hopeful that such gatherings will draw global attention to the situation and encourage international support for peace in the region.
