Protests in Sweden against Israeli military actions in Gaza
A demonstration outside the Riksdag in Stockholm saw several ministers being criticized by speakers, with the opposition also facing backlash. The speaker directly addressed Magdalena Andersson, asking if the cat had taken her tongue.
Sara Sjölander, among the audience, expressed her disappointment in Sweden’s current silence on what she termed as Israel’s “outrageous and cowardly” actions. She pointed out that the country previously had a progressive policy for the Palestinian people.
The demonstrations in Stockholm and Malmö each saw around 2,000 participants according to police estimates. Similar protests were also held in Gothenburg and outside the Christian Democratic Parliament in Helsingborg.
Sara Sjölander emphasized that the large turnout indicates a significant public opinion against Israel’s military actions. The demonstrations aimed to push for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. Nor Ajami, an artist, was selling his street art at the demonstration to raise money for the aid organization Islamic Relief.
Amid the protests, the controversial phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” was brought into focus. While some see it as a call for Palestinian freedom, others label it as anti-Semitic. Ajami defended the phrase, stating it is a call for equal rights for both Palestinians and Israelis in the region.
The protesters also chanted, “Stop killing the children of Gaza,” with one demonstrator, Doctor Menna Shalabi, expressing the inhumane nature of the ongoing conflict and its impact on the lives of the people in Gaza.
Ajami hopes that the demonstration brings attention to the perceived genocide taking place, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian aid. The artist’s efforts to raise money and the strong public opinion at the protests indicate a growing movement in Sweden against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.