Latest News Roundup in Sweden: Updates from Sweden on Thursday
In a significant development, a Swedish citizen has left the Gaza Strip as part of an assisted departure operation coordinated by Swedish authorities amid ongoing Western evacuation efforts. The journey, arranged by traveling by bus through Israel and the West Bank to Jordan, marks the latest step in the ongoing consular effort that began in October 2023 [1].
Israel has granted exit permission to a group of Western citizens, including Swedes, as part of this operation. So far, over 620 Swedes have left Gaza through this process, with citizens from Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Australia, and Japan also included [1]. The travel route consists of bus travel from Gaza through Israel and the West Bank, transit to Jordan, and flights from Jordan to the respective home countries of evacuees [1].
The Swedish government's Ministry for Foreign Affairs (UD) has confirmed the operation but has not disclosed details on the number of Swedes currently involved or additional logistics [1]. This evacuation is part of Sweden's broader consular assistance amidst the difficult humanitarian and security situation in Gaza [1].
Meanwhile, Sweden's economic recovery is set to be slower than previously expected, according to the National Institute of Economic Research (KI). Inflation in Sweden was 3.0 percent in July, according to the KPIF measure, slightly below analysts' expectations of 3.1 percent [2]. KI now expects GDP to grow by just 0.7 percent in 2025, down from an earlier forecast of 1.0 percent [2]. However, KI expects a turnaround later this year, as lower interest rates and rising real wages start to lift consumer spending.
Unemployment in Sweden has also risen, with nearly 20,000 more people unemployed from March to the end of June compared to the same period in 2024. The number of people registered as unemployed in Västerbotten shot up from 4,992 in the second quarter of 2024 to 7,417 in the second quarter of 2025 [3]. Inflation measured as the CPI was 0.8 percent at an annual rate [4].
On a separate note, a charter flight from the Canary Islands to Gothenburg was forced to land early in Spain due to a woman causing chaos on board [5]. The Riksbank's inflation target is 2.0 percent [6].
References: [1] Swedish authorities facilitate evacuation of citizens from Gaza Strip (The Local, 2025) [2] Sweden's Economic Recovery Slower Than Expected (The Guardian, 2025) [3] Unemployment in Sweden Rises Sharply (Dagens Nyheter, 2025) [4] Inflation in Sweden Remains Low (Svenska Dagbladet, 2025) [5] Charter Flight From Canary Islands Forced to Land in Spain (Expressen, 2025) [6] Riksbank's Inflation Target (Riksbank, 2025)
The Swedish government's focus on assisting citizens through the ongoing evacuation efforts in Gaza Strip, a part of the broader consular assistance, can be categorized under the topic of 'education-and-self-development' and 'general-news'. On a different note, Sweden's economic recovery facing setbacks such as a slower growth rate and rising unemployment comes under 'economic news'. Additionally, a separate incident involving a chaotic woman on a charter flight from the Canary Islands to Gothenburg falls under 'crime-and-justice' and 'general-news'. The political aspect could be seen in the Swedish government's role in coordinating evacuation and economic policies.
