State on a test of humanity: MFA silent on plan to separate families rescued from Gaza, only BiH citizens can enter

By Amra Vrabac

After the Embassy of Qatar announced that the country would finance a flight from Egypt to BiH carrying citizens rescued from the hell of Gaza, we sought more information from BiH institutions about the arrival of BiH citizens and their family members who do not have BiH citizenship.

Both the Service for Foreigners' Affairs and the Border Police of BiH responded to Patria, stating they would act in accordance with the law, while the SPS noted they would also act on any decisions by competent authorities.

We also sent an inquiry to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH, headed by Elmedin Konaković. We did not receive an answer regarding where the individuals would be accommodated or who would take care of them. Accommodation has already been found for some of the evacuees, but as a result of the goodwill of individuals who sympathize with their suffering.

The statement by the BiH Ambassador to Qatar, Semir Halilović, to BHRT, that there is a possibility of international shame, was indicative.

"It is now up to BiH whether it will enable these people to enter their own country on time or if this will turn into some kind of public international shame. It can happen that BiH seeks international aid to rescue its citizens, and then state institutions do not allow citizens to enter their own country. There are people in BiH who want to prevent these people from entering. I hope this extreme human inhumanity will not happen," Halilović emphasized.

Istraga.ba announced on its Twitter account on Friday evening that BiH authorities intend to separate families evacuated from Gaza.

"Only those individuals who have BiH citizenship can enter BiH (a total of 17), while other evacuated individuals, whose immediate family members have citizenship, must, for now, remain in Egypt," it states.

BiH authorities intend to separate families evacuated from Gaza. Only those individuals who have BiH citizenship can enter BiH (a total of 17), while other evacuated individuals, whose immediate family members have citizenship, must, for now, remain in Egypt, learns…

— Istraga.ba (@IstragaB) November 17, 2023

The statement by the Minister of Security of BiH, Nenad Nešić, indicated that something like this could be expected:

"If some relatives of relatives who do not have BiH citizenship have appeared, whom Konaković also wants to bring to BiH, then of course the Border Police, the Service for Foreigners' Affairs, and the Ministry of Security will conduct all security checks, because in essence, these are migrants. We have no intention of allowing foreign citizens coming from war zones where terrorist organizations operate to enter without security checks," he stated.

The plane with BiH citizens is expected to land on Saturday or Sunday. However, it is possible that due to this situation, the arrival of BiH citizens will be postponed.

The Council of Ministers of BiH convened an extraordinary session these days, but no decision concerned the reception of BiH citizens and their families.