Sa'ar bans two 'anti-Israel' Swedish MEPs from entering Israel, day before planned PA visit

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has banned two Swedish Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), Jonas Sjöstedt and Hanna Gedin, from entering Israel. The ban, implemented by the Population and Immigration Authority, comes a day before their planned visit to the Palestinian Authority. According to the Foreign Ministry, Sjöstedt and Gedin have "consistently acted against Israel in recent years, including by calling for international legal proceedings to be advanced against Israelis." They are also accused of making "false accusations against Israel, including claims of genocide, deliberate starvation, and the intentional targeting of children and medical personnel." Both MEPs have advocated for EU sanctions and an arms embargo against Israel over the Gaza war, and were among those who signed a May 2026 letter seeking access to Gaza.