Sweden urges EU to freeze trade deal with Israel over Gaza aid blockade
In doing so, Stockholm has joined Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Luxembourg in calling for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, due to Israel's human rights violations in Gaza.
'Using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare constitutes a war crime,' said Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard during a press briefing on Wednesday.
'We now propose that the EU suspends the trade section of the agreement as soon as possible,' Stenergard said. 'We'll be very clear with the Commission on this matter.'
The EU-Israel Association Agreement, updated on 10 July, grants Israel preferential access to the EU market in exchange for commitments to human rights and humanitarian access – obligations that Stockholm says Israel has failed to uphold.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson echoed the stance on X, writing: 'The economic pressure on Israel must increase. The situation in Gaza is appalling, and Israel is not fulfilling its most basic humanitarian commitments.'
The Gaza Strip is facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
The Swedish government also reiterated its request for the European Commission to consider sanctions against extremist Israeli ministers but insisted that pressure must also be applied on Hamas who "bears heavy responsibility for the suffering in Gaza".
"Sweden welcomes the fact that more countries in the Middle East are demanding that Hamas be disarmed and not be allowed to have a place in a future government of Gaza", Kristersson precised.
Germany, Hungary and Italy are among the countries that oppose a full suspension of the trade pact.
(jp)
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