Swedish citizens who have supported or financed the Palestinian terror organization Hamas may face lawsuits and investigations. This is confirmed by Israeli attorney Yael Vias Gvirsman, who is visiting Stockholm and founded the organization October 7th Justice Without Borders.

”Do I think there could be lawsuits against Swedish citizens? Yes, it’s very possible,” Yael Vias Gvirsman tells Bulletin.

She has worked with international criminal law for over 20 years and has served at four international criminal courts, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

War crimes in Rwanda and former Yugoslavia

Previously, Yael Vias Gvirsman has worked at the courts for Rwanda and former Yugoslavia. Since 2014, she has led the International Criminal and Humanitarian Law Clinic at Reichman University in Israel.

After October 7, she founded October 7th Justice Without Borders and now represents over 425 victims on a pro bono basis.

According to Yael Vias Gvirsman, investigations and prosecutions in Sweden may become relevant, or Swedish authorities may cooperate with international criminal investigations.

Sweden is a party to the Rome Statute and one of 125 countries that must cooperate with international arrest warrants. Association with a terrorist organization is already a crime under Swedish law.

”The primary responsibility lies with Swedish authorities to apply Swedish law for public order, to counter hate crimes, racist crimes and terror crimes,” explains Yael Vias Gvirsman.

German arrest warrants apply automatically

In Germany, her organization has initiated proceedings under the principle of universal jurisdiction. This means German courts can try crimes against humanity regardless of where the crimes were committed.

”A German arrest warrant is just like a Swedish arrest warrant. It’s valid throughout the EU and Schengen area. That includes Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland,” she explains.

On November 21, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant recognizing that Hamas committed extermination, rape, sexual violence, torture and murder as crimes against humanity.

”We want more arrest warrants against other [Palestinian] militias and against other individuals. If they’re alive, maybe they’re in Sweden. When someone who bears responsibility is on Swedish territory, Sweden has an obligation to cooperate with the ICC in The Hague,” says Yael Vias Gvirsman.

”Pay for slay” continues

The Palestinian Authority pays out ”salaries” to Palestinians in prison convicted of terrorism (”Pay for slay,” editor’s note). After ten years in prison, they receive the same salary as a Palestinian minister.

”When the person is then released, they’re promised a job as a civil servant in the Palestinian Authority. That’s why the Palestinian Authority has the world’s highest per capita civil servants relative to population,” says Yael Vias Gvirsman.

After Israel passed a law against this after October 7, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (chairman of the Swedish Social Democrats’ sister party Fatah, editor’s note) announced that the payments would stop. But Yael Vias Gvirsman says the money is now channeled through other organizations.

”It was shown almost immediately that other organizations would transfer exactly the same sums. So it’s money laundering. It’s still ongoing,” she says.

Mahmoud Abbas has honored Peter Hultqvist

Bulletin reported in February that Mahmoud Abbas, in a speech that was later censored, promised to the Fatah’s revolutionary council to continue with ”Pay for Slay.”

”I’ve said it before and stand by my word: if we only have one single [dollar] left, it belongs to the prisoners and martyrs. I will not allow, and you will not allow, any reduction in our commitments to them. They must get everything just as before, because they are dearer to us than all others,” said Mahmoud Abbas.

Social Democratic leaders Peter Hultqvist and Margot Wallström have both previously received medals from Abbas.

UNRWA sued for complicity

Separately, UNRWA, the UN aid organization unique to Palestinian Arabs, is being sued.

”We know that Hamas has infiltrated UNRWA. There isn’t a school in Gaza that hasn’t been used and is still being used by Hamas. UNRWA’s headquarters is Hamas headquarters,” says Yael Vias Gvirsman.

She argues that UNRWA’s leadership cannot have been unaware of Hamas infiltration, something that has been known since at least 2014 through the UN’s own investigations.

Several Swedish aid organizations have for a long time—partly with their own fundraised money and partly with taxpayer funds—channeled money and resources into Hamas-controlled Gaza.

Do you think that aid organizations and individuals who have worked with aid to Gaza could be investigated?

”The simple answer is yes. Many good Swedish citizens have their hearts in the right place. They want to be humanitarian, compassionate and tolerant and they donate to various organizations.”

”They really must verify what these sources are because many charitable organizations are manipulated and the money goes directly to terrorism,” the attorney warns.

Yael Vias Gvirsman concludes by emphasizing that the victims of October 7 are waiting for justice. She also says she would gladly assist Swedish prosecutors and police with materials.

”I want Swedish authorities to know that victims in Israel or in other places in the world who were in Israel that day want justice. They are at Swedish authorities’ disposal.”

”They’re waiting for justice because justice will help them rebuild their lives,” she says.