Stockholm - Saba:
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergaard on Tuesday announced that her country will move within the European Union to push for sanctions against specific Israeli government ministers over Israel's treatment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
"As long as we do not see a clear improvement in the situation of civilians in Gaza, we need to escalate our rhetoric," the Swedish Foreign Minister said in a statement in Brussels on Tuesday.
"We will therefore now also push for the European Union to impose sanctions on specific Israeli ministers," she added.
She explained that the sanctions will target "ministers who are advancing an illegal settlement policy," adding that the targeted officials will be the subject of discussion within the EU.
Stenergaard noted that Sweden "in all its contacts with the Israeli government has called for increased access to humanitarian aid and strongly criticized its failure to provide it."
She noted that Sweden is concerned about "how the Israeli government continues to escalate the situation, both in terms of statements and actions."
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergaard on Tuesday announced that her country will move within the European Union to push for sanctions against specific Israeli government ministers over Israel's treatment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
"As long as we do not see a clear improvement in the situation of civilians in Gaza, we need to escalate our rhetoric," the Swedish Foreign Minister said in a statement in Brussels on Tuesday.
"We will therefore now also push for the European Union to impose sanctions on specific Israeli ministers," she added.
She explained that the sanctions will target "ministers who are advancing an illegal settlement policy," adding that the targeted officials will be the subject of discussion within the EU.
Stenergaard noted that Sweden "in all its contacts with the Israeli government has called for increased access to humanitarian aid and strongly criticized its failure to provide it."
She noted that Sweden is concerned about "how the Israeli government continues to escalate the situation, both in terms of statements and actions."