Government’s response to situation in Israel and Palestine

On Monday 22 April, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström and Minister for Defence Pål Jonson are taking part in the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and Sudan are on the agenda.

The Nordic countries welcome the Israeli government’s announcement that life-saving humanitarian assistance to Gaza can be received in the port of Ashdod, that the Erez crossing will be reopened to facilitate entry to north Gaza, and that humanitarian assistance from Jordan entering through Kerem Shalom crossing in the south will be increased.

The Government has decided on a new strategy for development cooperation with the Middle East and North Africa. The strategy amounts to nearly SEK 2.3 billion (approx. EUR 230 million) distributed over four years (2024–2027). Its purpose is to support actors working for more stable and democratic development, and to counteract the root causes of irregular migration.

The Government decided to issue a disbursement of SEK 200 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The decision was taken in light of the acute humanitarian situation in Gaza and UNRWA’s new undertakings within the framework of a conditional statement assurance to Sweden.

At the initiative of Sweden, in a meeting with foreign ministry representatives in Israel, a large group of EU Member States and other parties today conveyed the urgent need to improve humanitarian access to Gaza.

We are very concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the suffering of the hostages as well as the Israeli government’s plans for a possible ground operation in Rafah, where well over a million Palestinians are currently sheltering from the fighting.

On 15 December, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström visited Oslo for a meeting on Gaza. The aim was to discuss the situation in Israel and Palestine, the extremely serious humanitarian situation in Gaza and renewed efforts for a negotiated two-state solution. The meeting was hosted by Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom call on Israel to take immediate and concrete steps to tackle record high settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

Opinion piece of 5 December 2023 by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch, Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson and Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström.

Through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Sweden is providing an additional SEK 60 million in humanitarian assistance to the vulnerable civilian population in Gaza, where the majority of those affected are women and children.

Today, 9 November, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell has attended an international conference in Paris on support to the civilian population in Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron hosted the conference, which gathered a large number of donors, aid organisations and countries from the region to discuss humanitarian access to civilians in Gaza, where there is still a shortage of essential supplies.

The Government has presented a new package of humanitarian aid in light of the developments in Gaza. The aid, which amounts to SEK 150 million, aims to meet the most urgent needs and focuses on women and children.

The Swedish plane that took off from Tel Aviv last evening has landed at Arlanda Airport. There were 143 people onboard. The passengers were Swedes with families.

In response to the attacks against Israel by the terrorist organisation Hamas, the Government will suspend aid to Palestine until further notice. At the same time, Sida will be instructed to conduct a review of aid to Palestine and report on this by 1 December 2023. Humanitarian aid will not be affected by the suspension.

Visby, 13 October 2023