The political reactions have been strong after the government's announcement that it demands the EU to freeze the trade agreement with Israel to increase the pressure on the country to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. The cooperation party SD has announced that it does not support the proposal and the party leader Jimmie Åkesson calls it "a disaster".
Even within the Christian Democrats, voices have been raised against the proposal. One of the critics is the EU parliamentarian Alice Teodorescu Måwe, who believes that the focus should be on putting pressure on Hamas. The member of parliament Mikael Oscarsson believes that the measure is too far-reaching against a democratic rule of law, while his parliamentary colleague Magnus Jacobsson says that the government "has made a total misanalysis", which the newspaper Dagen has reported on.
TT has sought the Christian Democrats' party leader Ebba Busch. Her press chief refers to the party secretary Liza-Maria Norlin, who also does not want to comment on the internal criticism, but says that the party supports the government.
"The Christian Democrats support the government's proposal, which means working to get the EU to introduce trade measures against Israel, such as freezing the trade part of the association agreement between the EU and Israel," says Liza-Maria Norlin in a written comment.
"At the same time, the pressure on Hamas must also increase, for example through further sanctions, which the government repeatedly raises within the EU. Hamas must be eradicated and the hostages released unconditionally and immediately," she adds.
