Oslo – Saba:
Norwegian Minister of International Development, Åsmund Aukrust, affirmed that Israel is setting a "dangerous precedent" by violating international human rights laws in the Gaza Strip, further escalating global instability.
According to the British newspaper The Guardian on Saturday, Aukrust stated, "Norway was one of the few European countries to recognize the Palestinian state last year. Over the past year and a half, we have witnessed a significant decline in respect for international law in the war on Gaza, and in recent months, the situation has worsened more than ever. Therefore, it is extremely important for the Norwegian government to protest and condemn this blatant violation."
He added, "Israel’s actions not only exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza but also pose a global threat to the future. We are deeply concerned that food is being used as a weapon of war and that the UN and humanitarian organizations are being barred from entering conflict zones."
Aukrust continued, "We are very afraid that this could become a new international standard, making the world more dangerous for all of us."
He noted that Norway’s Oil Fund, the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, has blacklisted 11 companies supporting the Israeli entity.
Aukrust expects the Norwegian parliament to reject calls next week to halt the fund’s investments in companies selling products and services in the occupied Palestinian territories, stressing that the fund should not invest in anything contributing to violations of international law.
The Norwegian minister pointed out that his country’s decision to recognize Palestine in May 2024 was "to send a message of hope," urging citizens across Europe to continue protesting and maintaining faith in political action.
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