Starvation of civilians in Gaza constitutes war crime, says Sweden

ISTANBUL

Sweden on Thursday denounced using starvation as a method of warfare in Gaza, calling it a war crime.

"Using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare constitutes a war crime. Life-saving humanitarian aid must never be politicized or militarized," Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said, according to Swedish daily Aftonbladet.

She reiterated the "urgent" need for food, water, and medicine to reach the enclave’s "severely affected" population living under "inhumane conditions.”

"Right now, there is much evidence that Israel is not living up to its obligations under international humanitarian law. Ultimately, it is the courts that will decide this," Stenergard added.

She further reaffirmed that they had increased support to organizations seeking to provide aid such as the UN World Food Program, UNICEF, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Also speaking to Swedish broadcaster SVT Nyheter, Stenergard said on Tuesday that they had sent a letter to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urging sanctions on individual Israeli Cabinet ministers.

"We are doing this to put further pressure on the Israeli government. We are one of the world's largest donors of humanitarian aid, but we are incredibly frustrated that the aid is not coming in and that every day we see terrible images of, not least, children suffering in Gaza," she explained.

Stressing that there is much more "greater frustration" against Israel in the European Council than a few weeks ago, Stenergard stated that reaching unanimity to put further pressure would still be difficult.

ISTANBUL

Sweden on Thursday denounced using starvation as a method of warfare in Gaza, calling it a war crime.

She reiterated the "urgent" need for food, water, and medicine to reach the enclave’s "severely affected" population living under "inhumane conditions.”

"Right now, there is much evidence that Israel is not living up to its obligations under international humanitarian law. Ultimately, it is the courts that will decide this," Stenergard added.

She further reaffirmed that they had increased support to organizations seeking to provide aid such as the UN World Food Program, UNICEF, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.