Sweden demands sanctions in new letter to EU

Stockholm – Sweden and the Netherlands are demanding in a new letter to the EU that the union impose sanctions against both Israel and Hamas, reports Sveriges Radio Ekot.

The letter is addressed to the foreign minister Kaja Kallas. The purpose is to get the EU to take action, according to Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard.

“We must put an end to the suffering in Gaza. We need to put more pressure on the Israeli government to allow humanitarian aid in, and we need to put more pressure on Hamas,” she tells Sveriges Radio.

Sweden also sent a letter to the EU and Kaja Kallas in June demanding sanctions against what it calls “extremist Israeli ministers,” who encourage settlement solutions. This demand is now being reiterated, as well as previous pressures on the EU to freeze the trade agreement with Israel. The letter also includes a proposal for sanctions against the political leadership of Hamas.

Sanctions against the Israeli ministers would have consequences for their ability to transfer capital between countries and to travel, according to Maria Malmer Stenergard.

“It is a powerful tool and a very clear political statement.”

(August 28)