ADDS MORE REMARKS FROM JENS STOLTENBERG
By Nur Asena Erturk
ANKARA (AA) — NATO's top official on Monday called for an extension to the humanitarian pause between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas, now in its fourth and final 24-hour stretch.
"I welcome that the agreement between Hamas and Israel has led to the release of hostages and the delivery of more humanitarian aid," Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a news conference in Brussels, ***ahead of the NATO foreign affairs ministers' meeting scheduled for Nov. 28-29.
"I call for an extension of the pause. This would allow for much-needed relief to the people of Gaza and the release of more hostages," he added.
Stoltenberg stressed that "the suffering we have seen underlines the need for a lasting political solution," while also expressing concern about possible escalation of the conflict.
A four-day humanitarian pause mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US went into effect across the Gaza Strip on Friday.
It brought a temporary halt to Israel's massive military campaign in the besieged enclave following an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas.
Israel has since killed at least 14,854 Palestinians, including 6,150 children and more than 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave. The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.
- Sweden's NATO accession
While turning to developments concerning Sweden's bid to join NATO, Stoltenberg declined to comment on a far-right politician's recent remarks about "demolishing mosques," in the country, since it was a "domestic discussion."
"But I believe in freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and these are also core NATO values. Democracy, freedom, and these are actually fundamental rights which we shall be protected throughout the alliance," Stoltenberg said.
According to him, the Swedish government "has delivered on what they pledged" at NATO summits in Madrid, Spain and Vilnius, Lithuania about stepping up the fight against terrorism and cooperation with Türkiye.
Stoltenberg noted that Türkiye has "legitimate security concerns" related to terrorism and that the PKK, "not only regarded as a terrorist organization by Türkiye but also by Sweden and NATO allies," was also linked to organized crime in in Sweden.
"Now, it's time for Türkiye and Hungary to finalize the process," he added.
Jimmie Akesson, leader of the country's far-right Sweden Democrats, on Saturday proposed a ban on the construction of new mosques and suggested the destruction of existing ones.
The Sweden Democrats, a party with Nazi roots, became the second-biggest party in parliament in last year’s general elections.
On Nov. 16, the Turkish parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee postponed consideration of a measure approving Sweden's NATO accession.
To join the alliance, which Sweden sought after Russia attacked nearby Ukraine, Stockholm has to have the approval of all current NATO members, including Türkiye, a NATO member for over 70 years.
Türkiye has been expecting concrete steps from Swedish authorities to alleviate Ankara's security concerns regarding support to the PKK terrorist organization.
In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU — has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.