By Talha Ozturk
BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - The first group of citizens and their relatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina who were evacuated from the Gaza Strip arrived Monday in the capital Sarajevo.
A flight from Istanbul, Türkiye brought back the 26 evacuees.
Another flight from Istanbul is scheduled to arrive with 11 more citizens.
The group was welcomed by Bosnia’s Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic, Palestinian Ambassador to Bosnia Rezeq Namoora and Qatari Ambassador Meshaal Ali Mohammad Abdullah Al-Attiyah.
Konakovic said this was one of the most demanding projects in which he has personally participated.
''It was important to take this first step. We will not stop until every Bosnian and Herzegovinian or his relative leaves Gaza and comes to Bosnia and Herzegovina," he said.
He added that the process of evacuating Bosnians who want to leave Gaza continues.
Relatives who welcomed the evacuees had mixed feelings of sadness and happiness, with some shedding tears.
Preparations are underway for the exit of the remaining Bosnians from the Gaza Strip.
Qatar provided a plane for the citizens and their relatives and covered the costs of their stay in Egypt and transportation to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.
Bosnians could not leave the area and were expecting to be evacuated until today.
Authorities in Gaza said Monday that the death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the enclave since Oct. 7 has jumped to over 13,300.
In a statement, the Gaza-based government’s media office said this includes 5,600 children and 3,550 women
The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.