Government’s response to situation in Israel and Palestine

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on recent attacks against UNIFIL.

On 7 October 2023, Hamas committed the worst mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson was joined by other ministers in a ceremony at Stockholm’s Great Synagogue on the evening of 7 October 2024 to honour the memory of the victims of the attack.

The military escalation in Lebanon has had major humanitarian consequences. Sweden is therefore increasing its humanitarian support to Lebanon by a total of SEK 83.5 million. The support will be divided between the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the Lebanese Red Cross, Save the Children and the UN Lebanon Humanitarian Fund.

The Government decided on 2 October to resume embassy operations in Beirut, Lebanon. The Embassy is now in place.

This strategy aims to support actors working for more stable, democratic and sustainable development in the Middle East and North Africa, including in Yemen and Palestine. The strategy applies from 21 March 2024 to 31 December 2027 and provides a total of approximately SEK 2.3 billion.

Iran: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the Iranian attack against Israel

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza.

Opinion piece by Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström, Expressen, 15 July 2024.

The Government is paying out SEK 100 million in core support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The disbursement is being made in response to the urgent humanitarian situation in Gaza and in light of the new measures UNRWA has taken to strengthen internal supervision and control.

The European Union gives its full support to the comprehensive roadmap presented by President Biden, that would lead to an enduring ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and a surge of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. The EU appreciates the determined efforts by the US, Egypt and Qatar in facilitating negotiations to bring an end to the war between Israel and Hamas, while ensuring Israel’s security, to which the EU remains fully committed.

Statement concerning Rafah, 28 May 2024.

In view of the extensive humanitarian needs in Gaza, the Government has presented a new humanitarian aid package amounting to EUR 10.5 million. The support will be distributed to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

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.