Swedish freeze of Palestine aid is a ‘severe blow’ to human rights work in region, church group says
Erik Lysén, Director of Act Church of Sweden Photo: Magnus Aronson/Ikon
It is in Hamas’ interest to cease operations for Palestinian and Israeli human rights organisations, since they are the “champions of a non-violent, peaceful approach” to holding decision makers to account, Lysén writes in an opinion article for Development Today.
Days after the October 7, 2023 terror attack on Israel by Hamas, the Swedish government announced it was freezing its Palestinian aid. The aid agency Sida has been instructed to review the aid portfolio to ensure that no Swedish funds go to actors who carry out violence or threaten to incite violence against Israel or support actors who “do not unreservedly condemn Hamas.”
Lysén says the move is a “severe blow to organisations working on a wide range of human rights issues” and plays into the hands of Hamas. He argues that requiring Act Church of Sweden and Palestinian partner organisations to openly repudiate Hamas “[puts] these organisations and their employees at risk.”
Read Erik Lysén’s article here.