Sweden and the Netherlands call for EU sanctions targeting Israel and Hamas

Brussels – In a new letter to the EU, Sweden and the Netherlands demand that the Union impose sanctions against both Israel and Hamas, according to Swedish radio station Ekot. 

The letter, sent on Friday (22 August), is addressed to the head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kallas. The aim is to push the EU into action, according to Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (Moderate Party). 

“We must put an end to the suffering in Gaza. We must put more pressure on the Israeli government to allow humanitarian aid in, and we must put more pressure on Hamas,” Stenengard told Ekot radio, according to Sweden Herald. 

Sweden had already sent a letter to the EU and to Kallas in June, demanding sanctions against what it calls “extremist Israeli ministers” who encourage settlement solutions. It now reiterated the demand, asking Brussels to freeze the trade agreement with Israel. The letter also contains a proposal for sanctions against the political leadership of Hamas. 

Sanctions against Israeli ministers would affect their ability to transfer capital between countries and to travel, according to the foreign minister.