On 17 August 2009 Aftonbladet ran a culture‑section piece by freelance photographer Donald Boström claiming Israeli forces removed organs from Palestinians killed in the West Bank and Gaza. The article, titled “Our sons are being plundered for their organs,” sparked immediate outrage in Israel and drew condemnation from several U.S. representatives.

Swedish officials refused to denounce the story, citing constitutional press freedom, while ambassador Elisabet Borsiin Bonnier called it “shocking and appalling.” The Swedish Newspaper Publishers’ Association and Reporters Without Borders backed the refusal, warning that government censure could chill debate. Palestinian authorities announced a commission to probe the allegations.

In December 2009 Israeli officials confirmed that chief pathologist Yehuda Hiss had harvested organs from deceased Palestinians, Israelis and foreign workers without consent, though they stressed the practice ended in the 1990s and was not linked to killings. Hiss’s confession lent partial credibility to Boström’s claims, intensifying diplomatic friction.

The episode left a lasting rift: Israel demanded a Swedish condemnation that never came, while Sweden upheld a free‑press stance despite domestic media opposition. The controversy highlighted how unverified war‑zone reporting can strain international relations, and it remains a reference point in debates over media responsibility and diplomatic accountability.