(cont. from § 6) The Middle East and North Africa (cont. UU15)
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
1 V considers that Israel's operations are causing a humanitarian catastrophe and that it is wrong to punish UNRWA for the actions of individuals 1. V argues that the government should exert pressure for a ceasefire, strengthen aid to Palestine and work towards the EU suspending the association agreement with Israel 1. V denies that aid funds have gone to terrorism 2 3. V argues that Israel is practicing mass starvation, that Sweden should stop the flow of weapons to Israel, support South Africa's genocide process 4 as well as introduce sanctions and label settlement products 4. V considers that Sweden should have acted earlier against the genocide in Gaza 5. 6 KD considers it reasonable to pause payments to UNRWA after serious allegations of participation in terror attacks 6. 7 C considers that Sweden needs a unified strategy for the Middle East 7. C condemns Hamas's terror attack against Israel 7. C argues that the war against Hamas must take place within international law, that the two-state solution is necessary 7 and that the government's decision to stop the aid is counterproductive 7. C sees UNRWA as an important actor for stability 8 9.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Speakers (13)
Lotta Johnsson Fornarve (V)
Madam Speaker! Words are not enough to describe the depth of the humanitarian catastrophe and the human suffering taking place right before our eyes in Gaza. It must be stopped, and it can be stopped if the political will exists.
Israel's military operation in Gaza has led to more children, more journalists, more medical personnel and more UN personnel being killed than anywhere else in the world in a conflict since World War II. At the same time, around 50,000 women are estimated to be pregnant in Gaza, and they are forced to give birth under horrific sanitary conditions and without anesthesia. Many of them bleed to death.
No place in Gaza is safe, and there is nowhere to go. Over 75 percent of the population has been forced to leave their homes. They are in desperate need of food, water, shelter, and medical care. Many have been forced to move and seek new shelter several times. According to several aid organizations, over 2 million people are suffering from famine. So far, at least 30 children have died of starvation in the two hospitals that are still functioning partially, and significantly more risk dying if the aid does not arrive.
People are forced to grind animal feed to make bread due to the shortage of wheat flour. Some are eating grass due to a lack of anything else. The humanitarian needs in Gaza are acute.
Following pressure from Vänsterpartiet, Socialdemokraterna, Miljöpartiet and Centern, the government has now resumed support for the UN agency UNRWA. It is naturally welcome, but the support should never have been frozen. The EU Commission has drawn the same conclusion as well as Canada, Spain and several other countries.
A war is ongoing in Gaza - a war that hits innocent civilians grotesquely hard. In that situation, choking off support to the only aid organization that is large enough and has enough personnel on the ground to make a difference was not only irresponsible; it risked human lives.
To punish the entire UNRWA with 30,000 employees for what possibly a few individuals have committed is clearly incorrect. The investigation surrounding these individuals could have continued without the aid being choked off. EU's head of humanitarian aid Janez Lenarcic also says in a statement that he has seen no evidence whatsoever for Israel's allegations against the UN agency UNRWA.
It is, to say the least, remarkable that the government support Sverigedemokraterna protested against the reinstated aid to UNRWA. It is completely incomprehensible how Sverigedemokraterna can oppose that starving children and women should receive food, water, and help from the UN to survive.
The Swedish aid to Palestine in the current state of catastrophe is far from sufficient. The aid needs to be strengthened significantly. However, the government did not resume the development aid to Palestine, which it stopped in connection with Hamas's brutal attack on October 7. It is an attack that must, of course, be condemned forcefully, and those responsible must be held accountable. But it does not justify that the entire Palestinian population is now being punished indiscriminately in something that can be likened to a genocide.
The development aid goes to organizations in Gaza and on the West Bank that work against radicalization and for human rights and equality. It goes to women's rights organizations that challenge patriarchal systems and to groups that document information about Hamas's abuses. It thus goes to work that stands in direct opposition to Hamas's interests. Sida has conducted two audits, both of which show that no money goes to Hamas and that the aid goes to the right things. Nevertheless, the government is delaying releasing the aid again. It shows a nonchalance toward people's suffering.
At the same time, Israel's bombings and ground offensives continue to kill civilians in Gaza to an extent that is unparalleled. Since October, approximately 30,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 60,000 injured. Many have sustained permanent injuries. Thousands of children who have survived are severely traumatized. Hospitals, schools, UN buildings, residential buildings, and even churches have been bombed to rubble. Furthermore, thousands of people lie buried under the rubble.
In January, the International Court of Justice ICJ ordered Israel to implement six provisional measures to protect Palestinians in Gaza against a real risk of genocide. Israel was ordered, among other things, to prevent and directly punish all public incitement to genocide as well as to take immediate and effective measures to ensure the provision of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
All states, including Sweden, have an obligation to ensure that these measures are implemented. It is evident that Israel has not followed the court's decision but has deliberately caused a famine catastrophe.
I now expect the Swedish government to exert the strongest possible pressure for Israel to open the border to Gaza so that supplies can enter to save lives. That Israel's deliberate starvation policy has led to neither condemnations nor consequences from Sweden is both outrageous and incomprehensible. I have met with a number of humanitarian organizations, and all of them are in complete agreement that the only way to curb the rapidly growing famine catastrophe is a permanent and lasting ceasefire.
The Swedish government has long been criticized for being all too silent on the issue. First, in December, they voted for a humanitarian ceasefire, but even after that, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister have been remarkably silent. I expect the government to wake up and act to put an end to the war. The Swedish government must stand up for international law fully and strongly protest against all crimes committed against the laws of war and humanitarian law.
The Swedish government must act for an immediate and lasting permanent ceasefire in Gaza. It is not possible to deliver life-saving aid to people as long as the siege, the ground battles, and the indiscriminate bombings continue. It is also not possible to rebuild the healthcare system, which at present has collapsed completely. Temporary humanitarian pauses are not enough to reach the entire population.
In the shadow of the war in Gaza, the situation in the West Bank has worsened significantly. Violence and poverty are spreading in the shadow of the war in Gaza, and the situation is becoming increasingly explosive. The UN reports that over 600 attacks have been carried out by Israeli settlers since October 7, and a total of 19 entire villages have been forced to relocate. Over 400 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by the Israeli military or settlers. A large number of new illegal settlements have been approved by Israel's government.
The settlements constitute a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and are considered by the International Criminal Court to be a war crime. Despite this, the settlements are allowed to continue. It is high time to implement sanctions against the settlers. Furthermore, aid worth millions of kronor has been destroyed by Israel both in Gaza and in the West Bank. This can include hospitals, schools, and other aid projects. How much aid has been destroyed must be properly investigated.
The key to a lasting peace is that Israel's occupation of Palestinian land ends and that Israel respects the Palestinians' fundamental human rights. Of course, the hostages that Hamas still holds must be released, but we must not forget the thousands of Palestinian political prisoners who are locked up, many of whom are children, and who have never been brought to trial.
Israel's occupation of Palestine would not be possible without the EU's favorable trade agreements with Israel and the USA's military aid to the country. The cooperation between the EU and Israel is extensive and gives the EU an opportunity to put pressure on Israel to respect international law. Sweden should oppose the EU deepening its cooperation with Israel in any area and work to have the EU suspend the association agreements as long as Israel does not dismantle the settlements and the checkpoints in occupied territory, lift the blockade of Gaza, and cease the construction of the wall in the West Bank. Sweden can play a decisive role both for a future peace and reconciliation process and for a two-state solution.
But what is most urgent at the current moment is an immediate permanent ceasefire.
I move for the approval of reservations 6, 9 and 10. I also apologize for exceeding my speaking time.
Yusuf Aydin (KD)
Madam Speaker! Vänsterpartiet and Member Lotta Johnsson Fornarve criticize us for having paused the payments to UNRWA after serious allegations. As I said in my speech: When such serious allegations arise, such as that employees at a UN agency have actively participated in the terror attack against Israel and its civilian population, it is entirely reasonable, and also routine, to act in that manner, which several other countries and the EU Commission also did. UN Secretary-General Guterres himself has appointed an independent investigation to thoroughly investigate these allegations.
I have another question for the member. It emerged in the autumn that the Left Party's aid organization had financed an organization that had been involved in, and also itself confirmed, the terror attack against the civilians in Israel with over 2 million in aid money from Swedish tax funds. My question then is: How does one work to ensure that Swedish money does not go to such organizations? It is very serious that we, through the Left's aid organization, have given money to an organization that actively participated in the terror attack and which has also confirmed this itself.
Lotta Johnsson Fornarve (V)
Madam Speaker! Thank you for the question, member!
First, I want to say that the allegations against UNRWA have not been confirmed. These were allegations that came from Israel in connection with the International Criminal Court's statement. When allegations arise, they must naturally be investigated, but we believe that this investigation could have continued while the aid continued. There was nothing that said one had to stop the aid in order to conduct this investigation. To date, no clear evidence has also emerged that these employees had actually participated in the attack.
Then a question was asked about a project that Vänsterns Internationella Forum, the Left Party's aid organization, had in Palestine. Together with Enhedslisten in Denmark, we supported a youth platform where young people could meet, discuss, cooperate, meet, and so on. It came to our attention that one of the organizations that received support, DFLP, supported Hamas's attack. When it came to our attention, we decided to go into depth with it and really examine how the aid had been used. It turned out that none of our funds had been used to support terrorism in any way. Sida has also reviewed this and come to the same conclusion: None of our funds have been used in an incorrect way. It was also some time ago that this project was concluded.
Yusuf Aydin (KD)
Madam Speaker! The project was ongoing for a number of years. As the member explained, DFLP itself has confirmed that they both supported and participated in the terror attack against Israel. That one even had a cooperation with and gave Swedish aid money to that type of organization—even if it is now said that the specific activity that was supported was not directly linked to terror financing—raises a number of questions about which partners the Left Party cooperates with, especially regarding aid and democracy development.
Vänsterpartiet advocates for the approach of not pausing when such accusations arise and sees no problem with continuing to pay out aid money, in this case to UNRWA. It also raises a number of questions regarding how one ensures that aid money does not go to the wrong things. How do Vänsterpartiet and the member view, despite the fact that in this case no money went to such activities, having a partnership with an organization that actively participated in a terrorist attack?
Lotta Johnsson Fornarve (V)
Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question.
We naturally take these allegations that have emerged in hindsight seriously. This project would have been completed long before Hamas's attack on October 7, but as we have said, we have truly investigated this to the bottom and seen that no aid funds have gone to the wrong things. They have gone to a platform where young people are to be able to meet, gather, and discuss together. We are completely certain that the money has not gone to the wrong things, and Sida has also checked this in its review. Both of these reviews have thus been carried out.
Moving forward, we must naturally become even clearer and even more careful when we choose our partners in cooperation.
Kerstin Lundgren (C)
Madam Speaker! The Middle East is a region with a very long history. Here lies the cradle of three world religions, in addition to its subgroups. Here, empires have emerged and been extinguished. Here are sources of many conflicts, some with regional and some with global reach. Proxy wars are ongoing, and the geopolitical presence is visible. Conflicts have not been resolved but have become a source of new conflicts, oppression, and abuses through centuries, perhaps millennia.
Sweden needs, as we see it, to develop a unified strategy for the Middle East. We have a strategy for aid today, but in our view, aid must be a part that is linked to a unified strategy. This is important to meet the region's challenges and for us to be able to be an active voice and contribute to solutions, not just contribute with money.
I would like to move for approval of reservation 2 under point 1.
Madam Speaker! The House decided last year to make an announcement to the government regarding the terrorist classification of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. The issue is addressed in the committee report, but the Center Party will not vote for similar motions during the vote. This is because the prerequisite for achieving success is that the EU's legal basis is upgraded. It is a requirement that the Center Party has put forward and which we will have to address in a committee report later this autumn. For that reason, I refer to my special statement.
Madam Speaker! The horrific terrorist attack that Hamas and several others carried out against Israel on October 7 last year must be unequivocally condemned. Those responsible should have been arrested and brought to justice for this brutal terrorist crime. Of course, Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorist attacks, and of course, we demand that the hostages be released.
The war against Hamas must, however, be conducted within the framework of international and humanitarian law. What is happening as a consequence of the war is yet another terrifying chapter in the conflict, which has remained unresolved since 1948. It has been 76 years since the decision on a two-state solution was made in the UN. But Israel has still not been granted secure and recognized borders by everyone, and the Palestinians have never seen their state formed. Many dispute the causes, but the consequences are recurring wars. Children who should have the right to grow up with dreams of what they want to do in life and with opportunities for education and a good life are instead fed martyr death as a path to success. Children grow up with fear and with images of death as their main pillow.
Madam Speaker! Now the focus is on Gaza. But also see what is happening on the West Bank and in East Jerusalem! There, a struggle is ongoing for power over the area that some want to make into Israel and others into Palestine, but which is seen by the international community as occupied territory, the area that could become Palestine after a peaceful solution. Here, the illegal outposts and the new settlements must cease. Here, the settler violence must cease and the Palestinians must be given hope that there is another way than violence. It is important, Madam Speaker, even for the Israelis' dreams for the future of a region without violence.
To assist the Palestinian Authority is to assist people who dream of an alternative future. It is about giving people hope and human rights through aid to various organizations that want to build a justice system that administers justice, strengthens the life chances of women and girls, and actually gives people – children – hope.
The government's decision to stop the aid forces Sida into breach of contract with many organizations, which is directly counterproductive. It is okay that the aid was paused to be reviewed. But after the in-depth analysis, the aid should have been resumed.
Israel is withholding the Palestinians' tax money that is not paid out to the Palestinian Authority, and Sweden and other countries are stopping aid. Then we must ask ourselves: In what way are we contributing to solutions to the conflict, to giving hope for a path other than Hamas's path, which is violence and terror?
The government should immediately decide that the aid to Palestine shall be paid out, and not a smaller portion. One must be clear that we are fulfilling the commitments that have been promised.
Madam Speaker! In this debate, UNRWA has also been touched upon. As I mentioned earlier, UNRWA is an organization that was formed by Folke Bernadotte's attempts to find a peaceful solution in the area. One could say that it is a Swedish effort to create the conditions for a solution. But the peace solution has remained elusive for 76 years. Therefore, the organization remains. It carries out efforts in Gaza, in the West Bank, in Lebanon, in Jordan, and in Syria, yes. In that way, it has the function of holding back another hopeless development, where people feel that when there is no solution, they have to use the other methods.
We do not want to encourage strangling an organization that has nevertheless kept the violence down. Many now believe that there is no other solution than terror. But a two-state solution also dissolves UNRWA, because when it exists, UNRWA disappears.
Today we have touched upon the fact that children in Gaza are dying of starvation. The long-stated demand from the UN for humanitarian access has still not been met. 2.5 million people are threatened by famine. Usually, we see famine as a result of natural disasters. But as has been said, it is people's decisions that create this famine, people's decisions to open and close borders and to act as they do.
The World Food Programme assesses that up to 1.1 million people will have exhausted all food supplies and be in a state of acute hunger as we enter the summer. We must, of course, act to prevent this. It is about humanitarian aid, an immediate ceasefire, and ensuring that the structures that exist can distribute aid to the people in Gaza. It is a challenge. Several in the committee have heard about the deficiencies that exist when there is no organization on the ground. We cannot end up in a situation where the IDF is to distribute the aid, because that will not solve the problems.
Stefan Olsson (M)
Madam Speaker! Member Lundgren spoke a great deal about the importance of UNRWA's existence and how important the organization is.
Sweden is one of UNRWA's primary funders, not in total volume but in proportion to population size. I would therefore like to ask the member how she views UNRWA's activities, not in Gaza but in, for example, Jordan where there are over 2 million registered refugees with UNRWA. In the refugee camps where UNRWA carries out waste collection. Is it reasonable for Swedish taxpayers to finance the waste collection for 2 million Palestinian refugees in Jordan?
Kerstin Lundgren (C)
Madam Speaker! Jordan is a country that actually should not be able to exist. The economy is dependent on aid from various sources. But Jordan is doing an incredible job. When it comes to the refugee situation, Jordan has been part of every conflict in the region for a long time - also Palestinian wars. It is not just about the war currently ongoing between Hamas and Israel but also about previous wars. It is clear that UNRWA has a balancing role here.
Jordan is also the protector of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and is part of the very sensitive puzzle that has been created to try to maintain some form of balance between hope and despair and create a future in the region with peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. UNRWA is an important actor in that balancing act throughout the entire region. If one were to pull back or throw away that puzzle piece, one would in principle be making an intervention in what is to be resolved in peaceful negotiations. That is not the path we want to take.
Stefan Olsson (M)
Madam Speaker! I understand it as that Swedish funding of waste collection in Jordan is crucial for stability in the Middle East.
I would like to ask one more question regarding UNRWA, as the member mentioned that the organization has kept the violence down. But has not UNRWA been heavily criticized for the fact that antisemitism has appeared in their teaching materials, especially in Gaza? Can one not instead say that UNRWA may have contributed to the spread of extremist values in Gaza, which then translated into the terror attack that took place on October 7? Is that not also a possible explanation for what has happened?
Kerstin Lundgren (C)
Madam Speaker! To specifically raise the issue of waste management is to cherry-pick. But UNRWA functions, in principle, as a provider of community services. It is about schools, healthcare, and so on in the refugee camps. It is UNRWA's task to manage.
It is clear that if one starts picking off one piece after another from UNRWA to, for example, Jordan to handle, one says that UNRWA is no longer needed. It is in this that the stalemate lies. UNRWA is part of the puzzle. With a two-state solution, UNRWA's mandate ceases, but the two-state solution has been absent for 76 years for various reasons. Therefore, this situation is so urgent to solve. One must contribute to solutions now.
Antisemitism is condemned, undoubtedly. The problem is, and I feel that it is a major concern, that what is happening now will make even more people feel that there is no hope and that the world does not care about them. They have no hope. That hopelessness probably fosters more fanaticism and extremism than an UNRWA textbook.
We have had discussions about UNRWA's teaching materials, and we will demand that they are reviewed and that that type of message is not spread. It is important. But there we at least have an opportunity! Had Hamas handled this, we know what message would have been spread, and it is not better; I can promise you that.
Håkan Svenneling (V)
Madam Speaker! This debate is largely about handling the Left Party's motion from the general motion period regarding North Africa and the Middle East. It was submitted to the Riksdag just days before the war in Gaza broke out. Therefore, the motion covers the Left Party's policy on Israel's occupation of Palestine as it looked before the war. In principle, everything stated there still applies today, but it is clear that the situation on the ground has deteriorated and worsened.
The situation in Gaza shocks us all. Mass famine and death affect over 2 million Palestinians. The death toll is currently being recorded at 30,000 people, but the actual figure is difficult to grasp when it comes to this displacement of the Palestinian people.
We should perhaps not be surprised. Already in October, Israel's defense minister Yoav Gallant said that all food, all water, all medicine and all electricity would be stopped to Gaza. The Israeli plan was clear; they wanted to both starve out Hamas and starve out the Palestinian people. Did the Western world react already then? No. A few countries such as Norway, Ireland and Spain took the lead, but they were far too few. Instead, we saw how the Western world, with the USA at the forefront, applied double standards when it comes to international law. In Ukraine, Russia should follow international law and be held accountable, but in the case of Israel, a different standard prevails, especially since Hamas carried out a horrific attack.
Something that has surprised me is the lack of focus on the hostages. It is likely over a hundred people who are living with Hamas down in the tunnels. Instead of a discussion on how they should be freed, the focus has been on destroying the organization that is holding them hostage. This is happening without any clear signs that Hamas is being weakened.
No conflict in history has killed as many healthcare workers, UN personnel, and journalists as this one. It makes Israel unique compared to other warring states in the world. It is important to mention the figures that apply here and now, on March 21. There have been 410 attacks carried out against hospitals and health centers, which have resulted in 685 deaths, 902 injured, and 104 destroyed ambulances. When it comes to the UN, 171 of their employees have been killed. Never before have so many UN employees been killed in the line of duty. It is 175 journalists who have been killed. Reporters Without Borders has stated that journalists have been targets for the Israeli military.
Hospitals have been targets and combat zones. All schools have been forced to close, and 80 percent of all school buildings have been damaged by the war. There are 350,000 homes that are destroyed. Many houses are merely piles of rubble. There is no electricity, no mobile coverage and no clean water. Add to that the thousands of Palestinians who have been detained by Israel's military to be humiliated and treated under torture-like conditions.
Even in the West Bank, the violence is shocking. In the shadow of the killing in Gaza, a killing occurs in the West Bank, where the settler movement takes the opportunity to displace Palestinians from houses and homes, supported by the Israeli military which primarily attacks refugee camps. Only since October 7 have 900 people been displaced from their villages by militant settlers. The settlers have carried out 658 attacks against Palestinians, which have led to injuries and deaths while property has been destroyed.
It surprises me that several of those who previously were very vocal from the side of the bourgeoisie are not participating in this debate. Several of them have explained to me personally that they do not have time, but it nevertheless shows that the wind has turned. Everyone has understood that what is happening now is mass starvation and death in Gaza. It is therefore quite difficult and weak to come up with arguments that everything is Hamas's fault or to refer to October 7.
No one likes Hamas, and no one supports Hamas. We have said it so many times, namely that October 7 was a horrific attack. But today it is Israel that is stopping aid shipments. It has gone so far that every fifth aid shipment to northern Gaza has been stopped during the month of March, and they consistently refuse despite the world's pleas to open the Erez crossing. That there are crossings is because Israel has locked Gaza in with a wall around all of Gaza, and it is a wall that has been declared illegal according to international law.
What should Sweden do, Madam Speaker? In our parliamentary motion, we present some proposals. More have been added during the war.
Sweden should oppose the EU deepening its cooperation with Israel in any area and suspend the current association agreement, a so-called trade agreement that it has with Israel.
As long as Israel does not dismantle its settlements and checkpoints in occupied territory, as long as Israel does not lift the blockade of Gaza and cease the construction of the wall in the West Bank, no rapprochement should actually take place with Israel. It should be completely ruled out.
Furthermore, Sweden must support Palestine in the ongoing work to be recognized as a full member of the UN. We want to see a two-state solution, and in that case, we must also give the Palestinian state strength internationally.
Sweden should be proactive in ensuring that the UN supports all attempts at national, free, and democratic elections in Palestine, regarding both parliamentary and presidential elections. It is important that Palestine receives democracy, but right now that democracy is hindered by the occupation.
In the situation we find ourselves in now, it is important to hold the representatives of the Israeli state accountable in both the government and the military. We can also gladly bring Hamas to court. Sweden must support the ongoing processes in the courts of the ICJ and ICC. Standing behind South Africa's case regarding genocide should be a matter of course, but obviously, the Swedish government is against it.
We must do everything in our power to stop the hunger. That Sweden has frozen and continues to freeze aid is a disgrace, but just before I went up to the rostrum, a push notification arrived that the government is resuming the aid - but, of course, with strings attached so that it is a question of fewer organizations. It is likely that the government is trying to reduce support to those MR organizations, democracy organizations, and humanitarian organizations that we know do important work.
We must stop the flow of weapons to the Israeli military and the settlers. If Swedish citizens return from having fought for Israel's military, they should be investigated according to Swedish laws.
The fact that Sweden has not yet stopped Israel from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest means that we will soon have to be ashamed before the whole world.
We must not hesitate in the matter of introducing sanctions and labeling settlement products. All pressure we can create on Israel is necessary so that this catastrophe does not get worse. We have a clear goal of a ceasefire now. It is the only way to save the people of Gaza.
Madam Speaker! I also wanted to say a few words about the Swedish children who are stuck in northeastern Syria and cannot get home to Sweden. Last week, Foreign Minister Tobias Billström came out with the most inhumane announcement one can hear, namely that they will not be allowed to come home. By refusing to sign a paper, he is preventing underage children from growing up in safety in Sweden. Instead, several of the children will likely die under difficult conditions in refugee camps. They are being punished and branded by the Foreign Minister because their mother made the choice to join the terrorist group IS.
Through his actions before Billström, he [exhibits] both the branding of children as terrorists and inherited sin in Swedish foreign policy. His actions are a disgrace to Sweden as a country.
The Left Party's motion does not only address the serious situation in Palestine or in Syria, but our motion also addresses important countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and the occupied Western Sahara, Bahrain, the situation in Iraq and Iran, which we have discussed so many times in the Riksdag in recent years. Furthermore, it is Yemen, where a terrible war is ongoing, Kurdistan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria, whose war never seems to end. Finally, there is Turkey in this region, which is ruled by the despot Erdogan and for which Sweden has bowed down in the NATO process.
For those who are interested in these countries, I recommend reading both our long and well-written motion as well as our reservations in this report: 1, 3, 4, 11 and 13. Just as Lotta Johnsson Fornarve did, I move for approval of reservations 6, 9 and 10. They are the common reservations from the opposition. I also want, on behalf of Jacob Risberg from Miljöpartiet, to move for approval of reservation 7, which Miljöpartiet and Vänsterpartiet have together. Jacob Risberg withdrew from his 12-minute speech in the debate, and then he thought he could at least get a motion for approval of a reservation.
ANDRE VICE TALMANNEN
I would like to remind you that, according to the House Rules, clothing with political messages may not be worn in the Chamber.
Lorena Delgado Varas (V)
Madam Speaker! I would rather say that it is a solidary act than a political symbol.
Madam Speaker! Sweden should have acted long ago regarding the genocide. Sweden should have acted when the first carpet bombing spread indiscriminately over Gaza's population. It was an exercise of violence that is not interested in reacting to an attack but solely in taking revenge.
Sweden should have acted when the first school was bombed deliberately and systematically, just as they have continued to bomb all schools in Gaza and all universities. Gaza's entire education system is destroyed.
Sweden should have acted when the first hospital was bombed. When the Al-Ahli hospital was bombed, the bombing was denied: Israel did not bomb hospitals, rather they probably did it themselves. But then hospital after hospital was bombed, and now there are no hospitals in Gaza that have not been bombed or attacked. Staff and patients have been murdered, and it has been allowed for infants to be murdered by denying them electricity to their incubators. Women have been forced to risk their lives when giving birth, and they do so under extreme pain - especially if they need C-sections. Staff have been removed from hospitals by the Israeli army without reason.
Sweden should have acted when over 100 journalists were murdered, while Israeli media have engaged in disinformation. Sweden should have acted when UN premises, schools, and spaces where people sought shelter were bombed. They had fled there from the bombs and thought they were a bit safer. Sweden should have acted when aid workers were murdered - 111 just last week. Sweden should have helped our own citizens. Instead, Swedish children were killed under the bombs.
Months have passed. From the very beginning, the world knew that Israel was not attacking military targets, but rather civilian targets. Today, 5 percent of Gaza's population has been murdered or mutilated. 100 percent of Gaza's population has been forcibly displaced in a deadly game by Israel. They force families to move from one area to another only to continue bombing them and forcing them into starvation.
We have seen abominable war crimes, from carpet bombing to the murder of starving people as they collect flour from aid trucks. We have seen Israeli tanks running over completely unprotected and completely defenseless men, women, and children. The list of war crimes is unfortunately long.
Now that the government so strongly maintains that human rights, environmental and climate issues are best addressed through trade, at least that must be stood by. When we see countries like Israel committing war crimes and genocide, there must be consequences, and then we must use the tools that exist to put pressure on them. We must stop all cooperation with Israel and suspend the association agreements. We should have done that a long time ago.
We must introduce sanctions. In some way, we must put pressure on Israel to stop all this bestiality.
Over 40,000 Palestinians are murdered, and 14,000 of them are children. There is no excuse.
To those of you listening out there: Join the Palestine movement! Go to the demonstrations! Boycott! Do everything you can to raise your voices or contribute to making a difference! It is needed. It is our duty.
The deliberation was hereby concluded.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.