Norwegian Foreign Minister: The situation in Gaza and the West Bank is dangerous and requires a fair solution

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stated that the situation caused by Israel in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is very dangerous, stressing that the devastating war in Gaza has not ended yet, and that the current ceasefire is unstable.

In an interview on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2025, the Norwegian minister described the situation in Gaza as very complex, but he pointed out that there is a real opportunity not only to end the war, but also to lay a solid foundation for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, noting that many countries around the world are moving towards recognizing the Palestinian state.

The minister also stressed the importance of the future government in Gaza being purely Palestinian, and being part of a unified Palestinian state that includes Gaza, the West Bank, and the relevant parts of Jerusalem in the long term.

He stressed the need to move to the next phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza according to the proposed American plan, saying: "Either the war continues, or we pay close attention to what is happening in Gaza," stressing the importance of continuing to deliver humanitarian aid and achieving stability in the sector.

Regarding the West Bank, the Norwegian minister described the situation there as very difficult and deteriorating, noting that Israeli settlers are practicing more hostilities against Palestinians, due to the absence of punishment and sometimes with the support of the Israeli authorities.

He affirmed that Norway does not invest in any company that exports weapons to Israel for use in the West Bank.

In the context of his talk about the Oslo track, in which Norway played a pivotal role, the Norwegian minister explained that the positive aspect of this track was starting to build Palestinian institutions in preparation for the establishment of an internationally recognized Palestinian state.

He acknowledged that Israel was granted a kind of veto through the Oslo Accords, but the government of Benjamin Netanyahu in particular was not interested in negotiations with the Palestine Liberation Organization, which led to the description of the Israeli occupation of Palestine as illegal, which was confirmed by the International Court of Justice.

The Norwegian Foreign Minister affirmed that there is no alternative to the two-state solution in the long term, and that achieving this solution requires changing the current course, saying: "We cannot give Israel the right of veto, and therefore we joined Spain and Ireland in recognizing the State of Palestine."

Regarding the war in Ukraine, the Norwegian minister stressed that the solution must be fair and consistent with international principles related to sovereignty and the right to self-determination, and that it must be sustainable and logical, stressing that a fragile ceasefire cannot be accepted.