Sweden said it was paying 100 million kronor ($9.4 million) in “core support” to the United Nations agency that aids Palestinian refugees, saying it was “made in response to the urgent humanitarian situation in Gaza and in light of the new measures UNWRA has taken to strengthen internal supervision and control.”
Human rights groups returned to a Dutch court Friday seeking stricter enforcement of a court order to halt Dutch exports to Israel of parts for F-35 fighter jets used in the Gaza war, saying that the parts likely still wind up in Israel via the United States. An appeals court ordered the Dutch government in February to halt the export of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel, citing a clear risk of violations of international law if they are used in strikes on Gaza. The government has appealed that ruling, but says it is abiding by the order pending the outcome by halting direct exports to Israel.
Canada’s foreign minister is imposing sanctions on four Israelis she accuses of “extremist settler violence” in the occupied West Bank. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says she was in the region recently and heard from Palestinian families who have been forced to leave their homes and farming lands as a direct result of violence and threats by extremist settlers.
Quick Read
Sweden to Support UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees
- Sweden is providing 100 million kronor ($9.4 million) to the UN agency aiding Palestinian refugees.
- This decision responds to the humanitarian situation in Gaza and UNRWA’s strengthened oversight.
- Israel alleged that 12 UNRWA workers in Gaza were involved in the October 7 Hamas attack.
- These allegations led to suspended contributions from several countries, including the US.
- An independent review found no prior Israeli concerns about UNRWA staff since 2011.
- Sweden’s total allocation to UNRWA for 2024 is 400 million kronor ($38 million).
- Friday’s decision was the second disbursement, following a March 9 disbursement of 200 million kronor.
Dutch Rights Groups Seek to Limit Fighter Jet Parts Exports to Israel
- Human rights groups in the Netherlands are seeking stricter enforcement of a court order against exporting F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel.
- The Dutch court previously ruled to halt these exports due to risks of violating international law in Gaza.
- The Dutch government has appealed the ruling but claims to comply by stopping direct exports.
- Concerns exist about parts reaching Israel via the US, prompting calls for broader export restrictions.
- The court is urged to impose a penalty of 50,000 euros daily if the government is found non-compliant.
Canada Sanctions Israelis for Settler Violence in West Bank
- Canada sanctioned four Israelis accused of extremist settler violence in the West Bank.
- Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly cited violence against Palestinian families and property.
- The sanctions target individuals already listed by the US and UK for similar actions.
- Those sanctioned include David Chai Chasdai, Yinon Levi, Moshe Sharvit, and Zvi Bar Yosef, accused of various violent acts against Palestinians.
- Joly emphasizes that extremist settler violence is unacceptable and will have consequences.
The Associated Press has the story:
Sweden to pay millions of dollars to support UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Newslooks- COPENHAGEN, Denmark — (AP)
Sweden said it was paying 100 million kronor ($9.4 million) in “core support” to the United Nations agency that aids Palestinian refugees, saying it was “made in response to the urgent humanitarian situation in Gaza and in light of the new measures UNWRA has taken to strengthen internal supervision and control.”
Israeli had alleged that 12 of the agency’s 13,000 workers in Gaza participated in the surprise Oct. 7 Hamas attack into southern Israel. The allegations led to the suspension of contributions to UNRWA by dozen countries, including the United States. In April, an independent review of UNWRA’s neutrality found that Israeli authorities never expressed concern about anyone on the staff lists Israel has received annually since 2011.
The Swedish government has allocated a total of 400 million kronor ($38 million) to UNRWA for 2024. On March 9, Stockholm decided to make a first disbursement of 200 million kronor ($19 million) following UNRWA’s written assurances to Sweden regarding increased transparency and stricter procedures. Friday’s decision by Sweden was the second disbursement, the government said in a statement.
Dutch rights groups go back to court seeking to limit export of fighter jet parts to Israel
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Human rights groups returned to a Dutch court Friday seeking stricter enforcement of a court order to halt Dutch exports to Israel of parts for F-35 fighter jets used in the Gaza war, saying that the parts likely still wind up in Israel via the United States.
An appeals court ordered the Dutch government in February to halt the export of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel, citing a clear risk of violations of international law if they are used in strikes on Gaza. The government has appealed that ruling, but says it is abiding by the order pending the outcome by halting direct exports to Israel.
However, lawyer Liesbeth Zegveld told a judge at a summary hearing at The Hague District Court that Dutch F-35 parts are still being delivered to other countries, notably staunch Israeli ally the United States and urged the judge to ensure those deliveries also do not wind up in Israel.
She added that if the court decides the government is not abiding by the earlier ban it should be ordered to pay a penalty of 50,000 euros ($53,500) each day until it complies.
Reimer Veldhuis, a lawyer representing the Dutch state, told the court the Netherlands is abiding by the earlier order and cautioned that seeking to prevent more exports of F-35 parts to nations other than Israel could put at risk supplies to militaries around the world who operate the advanced fighter jets at a time of soaring international tensions.
Rolien Sasse, of the Dutch rights group PAX, told the court it should order the Netherlands to take proactive measures to prevent parts made in the Netherlands being installed in Israeli fighter jets. PAX launched the summary proceedings along with Oxfam Novib and The Rights Forum.
Canada sanctions four Israelis accused of ‘extremist settler violence’ in West Bank
OTTAWA, Ontario — Canada’s foreign minister is imposing sanctions on four Israelis she accuses of “extremist settler violence” in the occupied West Bank.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says she was in the region recently and heard from Palestinian families who have been forced to leave their homes and farming lands as a direct result of violence and threats by extremist settlers.
The sanctions announced Thursday apply to four men who Canada’s government accuses of “violent and destabilizing actions against Palestinian civilians and their property in the West Bank.”
All four were listed by the U.S. and U.K. earlier this year.
They include David Chai Chasdai, whom the U.S. State Department has accused of leading a rampage in which multiple vehicles and buildings were set on fire and one civilian was killed.
Yinon Levi has regularly led settlers to assault Palestinian and Bedouin civilians, Washington says, setting their fields on fire and threatening more violence if they don’t leave.
Moshe Sharvit “repeatedly harassed, threatened, and attacked Palestinian civilians and Israeli human rights defenders,” according to the State Department, including making 100 Palestinians flee after ordering them to leave.
Zvi Bar Yosef was accused by Washington of “repeated violence against Palestinians” and blocking access to their lands.
Joly says Canada is sending a clear message that acts of extremist settler violence are unacceptable and that perpetrators of such violence will face consequences.
Some 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank, which has been under Israeli military rule for over a half-century. Around 500,000 Israelis reside in hundreds of settlements and outposts, which are segregated and tightly guarded communities.
The army says it tries to protect all residents, but critics say that soldiers often turn a blind eye to settler violence.
