Israel bans entry to two Swedish members of the European Parliament

On August 24, 2026, Israeli authorities denied entry to two Swedish members of the European Parliament, Jonas Sjöstedt and Hanna Gedin, who are representatives of the Swedish Left Party (Vänsterpartiet). The MEPs, who were scheduled to arrive on Sunday, intended to visit areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar requested the ban, citing domestic legislation that allows the government to block entry to individuals who promote boycotts against Israel or support international legal proceedings against Israeli citizens for alleged war crimes. The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that the two politicians have expressed hostile positions, including allegations of genocide, the deliberate starvation of civilians in the Gaza Strip, and the intentional targeting of medical personnel and children. These allegations align with reports from a UN-mandated commission in June 2026, which accused Israel of targeting children and committing genocide, claims that the Israeli government has dismissed as a defamatory masquerade.

This decision marks an escalation in tensions between Israel and European political figures who criticize the military campaign in Gaza. The Israeli authorities maintain that the entry denial is a consistent application of laws governing national security and public order.