Silence is complicity. We demand immediate action!

The civilian population in Gaza is at risk of starving to death. For nearly two months, Israel has blocked all emergency aid – while bombs continue to fall on a population repeatedly forced to flee.

The Israeli government does not hide its intentions: to drive a people from their land. This is ethnic cleansing. One of the gravest crimes against humanity.

The cynicism is brutal. In recent days, Israel has started to allow in a fraction of the aid that is needed – not to protect civilians, but to silence international criticism. The UN is clear: the aid amounts to a drop in the ocean.

What is happening is not only a humanitarian catastrophe marked by clear and severe breaches of international law – it is a moral collapse of the international community. When we allow this to continue without consequences, we erode international law and all principles of human rights and human dignity. Violence is also escalating in the West Bank, perpetrated by Israeli settlers and the Israeli military.

We demand an immediate return to ceasefire with the release of hostages, international protection for civilians, and full humanitarian access to Gaza. We demand accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The international community – including Sweden and the EU – must stop shielding the actions of the Israeli government. It is time for the Swedish government to take a firm stand for international law.

Words are not enough. Therefore, we demand:

• Suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
• Sanctions against responsible Israeli ministers and military officials.
• A ban on trade in goods from illegal settlements.
• Sanctions against extremist settlers.
• Resumption of Swedish support to UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
• Support for the independence of international courts – and respect for their rulings.
• Sweden must work to ensure the international community enforces Israel to end the occupation.
• Active support for peace efforts towards a sustainable two-state solution based on international law.

The General Assembly of the Olof Palme International Center, Stockholm, 21 May 2025.