In Israel and the Occupied Territories, the Israeli government has frozen the press credentials for Swedish journalists over an article alleging that Israeli troops were involved in organ theft. The article was published in a Swedish tabloid last week. The piece repeats allegations Israeli troops stole Palestinian organs for sale on the black market. The Israeli government called the article a “blood libel” and has demanded a Swedish apology. The withdrawal of press credentials would prevent Swedish journalists from entering the Occupied Territories. Swedish journalist Mats Gezelius called the Israeli move an overreaction.

Mats Gezelius: “It’s a big ado about not so much. I mean, one article, not so substantiated, perhaps not the best article that has been written, more of an op-ed piece on the cultural page of a Swedish newspaper, and then it becomes a big diplomatic scandal.”