Latest news with #Stenergard
Saba Yemen
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Sweden: Israel's decision to reoccupy Gaza violates International Law
Stockholm – SABA: Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard stated on Friday that the Israeli government's decision to escalate attacks on the Gaza Strip violates international law, expressing concern over the move aimed at fully occupying the enclave. In a press statement criticizing the Israeli entity's decision to reoccupy Gaza, Stenergard emphasized that attempts to annex, alter, or shrink Gaza's territory contravene international law. - "I am deeply concerned by the Israeli government's decision. While we urgently need a ceasefire, this move takes us in the exact opposite direction." - "Israel's decision to escalate attacks on Gaza breaches international law. We are alarmed by this development." With American and European backing, the Israeli enemy army has continued its genocidal crimes in Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in: - 61,258 Palestinian civilians martyred (mostly children and women) - 152,045+ injured (as of Thursday) - Thousands still trapped under rubble, inaccessible to rescue teams Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Euractiv
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Euractiv
Sweden urges EU to freeze trade deal with Israel over Gaza aid blockade
The Swedish government is calling on the EU to freeze its trade deal with Israel in an effort to pressure the country into allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza. 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)
Civil.ge
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Civil.ge
Sweden Summons Georgian Diplomat Over Human Rights Concerns
On July 11, the Georgian chargé d'affaires was summoned to the Swedish Foreign Ministry, 'where a senior official expressed serious concern regarding the human rights situation in Georgia,' Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Stenergard wrote in a social media post. In the same post on X, Stenergard also noted her country's inclusion in the July 11 joint statement by 17 foreign ministers from European countries and EU High Representative, in which the leaders said they are 'disturbed' and 'deeply concerned' at the 'deteriorating situation' in Georgia, citing the jailings of opposition politicians and government critics, among others. On June 30, the British Foreign Office summoned the Georgian chargé d'affaires to protest what it called the Georgian Dream government's crackdown on civil society, independent media, and political opposition, warning of potential further action if democratic standards are not upheld. The EU Foreign Affairs Council, set to meet on July 15, will discuss the situation in Georgia and 'consider possible measures in response to the growing repression by the authorities,' the European Council agenda says . Also Read:
Local Sweden
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Sweden calls for EU sanctions targeting 'individual Israeli ministers'
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said that her country would work within the EU to push for sanctions against certain Israeli ministers over Israel's treatment of civilian Palestinians in Gaza. Advertisement "Since we do not see a clear improvement for the civilians in Gaza, we need to raise the tone further," Malmer Stenergard said in a statement to AFP. "We will therefore now also push for EU sanctions against individual Israeli ministers," she added. Stenergard said the sanctions should target "ministers who are pushing an illegal settlement policy and actively opposing a future two-state solution", with EU discussions determining which officials would be targeted. But she insisted that Sweden was a "friend of Israel". Her comments came as she met with EU counterparts in Brussels on Tuesday. The Israeli army stepped up its offensive at the weekend, vowing to defeat the Hamas militant group that runs Gaza after its October 7th, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war. Aid trickled into the Gaza Strip on Monday for the first time in more than two months, following widespread condemnation of Israel's total blockade that has caused severe shortages of food and medicine. On Tuesday, a UN spokesman said it had received permission to send another "around 100" trucks of aid into Gaza. "In all of our contacts with the Israeli government, we have long demanded increased humanitarian access and have been very critical of the fact that they have not secured it," Stenergard said. Advertisement She also said Sweden was concerned with "how the Israeli government continues to escalate the situation, both in terms of statements and actions". Israel's security cabinet approved a plan this month to expand the military offensive, which one official said would include the "conquest" of Gaza and the displacement of its population. On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel "will take control of all the territory of the strip". Hamas's attack in October 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza including 34 the military says are dead. Gaza's health ministry said Tuesday that at least 3,427 people had been killed since Israel resumed strikes on March 18th, taking the war's overall toll to 53,573.
Local Sweden
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Swedish prosecutors deny that spy arrests are linked to journalist held in Turkey
Swedish prosecutors have denied the intelligence service's arrests of a Kurdish representative and a Swedish diplomat are linked to a journalist facing 'terror' charges in Turkey. Advertisement Public broadcaster Sveriges Radio had alleged late on Wednesday that one of the suspects was connected to the case of Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, who is currently in custody in Turkey awaiting trial on a charge of belonging to a "terrorist" group. The Swedish Security Service (Säpo) confirmed to AFP that two people had recently been arrested for "aggravated unauthorised handling of secret information". They had since been released but were still suspects, Säpo said. It declined to disclose any details of the case. Sveriges Radio said one of the suspects in Säpo's case was a Swedish citizen who was a leading representative for Kurds in Northern Syria. The other was a diplomat at the foreign ministry. The broadcaster said it was unclear whether the arrests had been made as a result of a request from Turkey or not. But on Thursday, the Swedish Prosecution Authority published a statement refuting the media reports. "This is an individual case that has no links to other ongoing investigations or legal proceedings, in Sweden or in other countries," public prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist said, noting the investigation was in an early stage. Advertisement Turkey has accused Medin, who works for Swedish newspaper Dagens ETC, of being a member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an allegation he has denied. Medin was detained at Istanbul airport on March 27th when he flew in to cover mass protests gripping Turkey. A Turkish court last month handed the 40-year-old an 11-month suspended sentence on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In order to persuade Turkey to drop its veto when Sweden applied to join Nato, the countries made a deal that included increased collaboration on "terrorism". At the weekend, Säpo arrested a second diplomat on suspicions of spying. That diplomat was also released but remains a suspect, although the intelligence agency told AFP that was related to a separate investigation. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Nato meeting in Turkey, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard confirmed there were two investigations ongoing relating to government employees. "These are serious accusations but I can't say more than that," Stenergard said. Stenergard said she had spoken to her Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on Wednesday about Medin's case.
