Kristersson described the situation in Gaza as “utterly deplorable,” pointing to Israel’s obstruction of humanitarian deliveries as justification for halting trade privileges. “Sweden therefore demands that the EU, as soon as possible, freezes the trade component of the association agreement,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. His remarks echoed those of Veldkamp, who had earlier warned that unless humanitarian access improves, the Netherlands would back suspension of the trade agreement.

The EU is Israel’s largest trading partner. The EU-Israel Association Agreement governs bilateral trade and political dialogue and has come under increasing scrutiny amid allegations of international law violations by Israeli forces in Gaza.

Statehood Momentum Amid Worsening Crisis

The move comes as international frustration grows over the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, where a UN-backed food security body recently warned that famine conditions have emerged, especially among children. One in three children in Gaza City is now acutely malnourished, according to the latest data from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

Simultaneously, a political shift is underway. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada would recognize a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly in September, joining similar declarations by France and the UK. These announcements have added pressure on Israel and its allies to reassess diplomatic and trade relationships.

Meanwhile, two major Israeli human rights organizations publicly accused the Israeli government of committing genocide in Gaza, aligning with expert and international legal assessments.