Press Release

At a special meeting of Nordic Foreign Ministers in Oslo, the five Ministers issued a joint statement on support for Gaza and UNWRA.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recently received a number of questions about Norway’s position with regard to Hamas.  A short summary of the facts is given below.   Norway has never recognised Hamas, or established relations at political level with the movement. (According to international law, it is only states, not governments, that can be recognised by other states). Norway deeply deplores the use of violence by Hamas, which is harming civilians in Israel. Norway calls on Hamas to comply with the international community’s three conditions: that it recognise Israel’s right ...

Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg today met with Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek, on the occasion of the Czech Republic’s role as EU presidency. A central topic was the crisis in the Middle East. Stoltenberg announced that Norway will increase its humanitarian aid to Gaza from NOK 30 to NOK 50 million. “We want to increase our aid to the population of Gaza, seriously hit by the fighting. The Government has therefore decided to grant an additional NOK 20 million to medicine, food and other emergency aid to the Palestinians”, Stoltenberg said. Stoltenberg and Topolánek stressed th...

The Gaza headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was in flames this morning after it was shelled by the Israeli armed forces. The Al Quds Hospital, which is run by the Palestinian Red Crescent, was also hit. “We strongly condemn these actions,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.   Hundreds of Palestinians have sought refuge at the UNRWA headquarters during the past few days. UNRWA’s main warehouse for emergency relief supplies is located in the same compound, and all distribution of food and medicine to the civilian population has ...

Humanitarian needs caused by the fighting in Gaza are acute. The Norwegian Government has today granted an additional NOK 20 million to organisations reaching Gaza’s civilian population. In total Norway has now granted NOK 50 million to emergency humanitarian aid since the fighting started in December. “We want to increase our aid to the population of Gaza, seriously hit by the fighting. The Government has therefore decided to grant an additional NOK 20 million to medicine, food and other emergency aid to the Palestinians. With these means the UN, the Red Cross family and Norwegian humanita...

– It is necessary to take measures to decrease the numbers of asylum seekers without a need for protection, says Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. Norway has, next to the Netherlands, experienced the largest increase in the arrivals of asylum seekers in Europe in 2008. So far this year more than twice as many asylum seekers has arrived compared to the same period of last year. 60 per cent of the applications for asylum are rejected. In 2007 Norway received 6 500 asylum seekers and this year around 15 000 arrivals are expected. The main reason for the increase are developments in the home cou...

Norway condemns the brutal attack on civilians in Jaffa Street in Jerusalem on Wednesday 2 July in the strongest terms. Norway conveys its deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims. This unacceptable act does harm to all Israelis and all Palestinians. The Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Jonas Gahr Støre calls on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to pursue their discussions, despite this violent act, in order to make progress in the ongoing negotiation process.  

Norway provides NOK 228 million for the establishment of the World Bank administered new trust fund for budget support to the PA. Norway signed on the 19 March 2008 an agreement with the World Bank worth NOK 228 million, approx. US $ 44 million, in support to the new trust fund called Palestinian Reform and Development Trust Fund (PRDP-TF). The grant is in line with the Norwegian budget support pledge made at the Paris Conference held in December 2007. The funds will be made available to the PA in April. - Norway has actively supported the establishment of a World Bank administered tru...

“I am appalled by the acts of violence that have taken place in Gaza during the past few days. A large number of civilians, including many children, have been killed or severely injured during Israeli military attacks. The damage to infrastructure and residential areas has also been extensive. I deeply deplore this use of violence and wish to convey my most sincere sympathy to the families of those affected,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre. “Norway has on several occasions condemned the indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israel, which is terrorising the civilian population ...

Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is concerned about developments in Gaza “I am concerned about the escalating spiral of violence we have seen in Gaza lately. Repeated rocket attacks on Israel by militant Palestinian groups and Israel’s reactions are further exacerbating the civilian population’s precarious situation,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The Foreign Minister underlined that Norway strongly condemns the repeated rocket attacks on Israel, and that Israel has the right to defend itself and to protect its own people. At the same time he urged Israel to show restraint, and s...