The Norwegian government announced on Thursday its intention to allocate $24 million to the United Nations agency responsible for assisting Palestinian refugees, coinciding with Israel’s decision to prohibit the organization from operating within its territory.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Gaza is in ruins, and UNRWA’s help is more necessary than ever.”
He further remarked on the gravity of the situation for Palestine, noting that the implementation of Israeli laws could effectively hinder UNRWA’s operations. As of Thursday, UNRWA is barred from functioning on Israeli soil, and any communication between the agency and Israeli officials is prohibited. This ban was upheld by Israel’s supreme court, which dismissed a legal challenge against it late Wednesday.
For over 70 years, UNRWA has been instrumental in providing assistance to Palestinian refugees across the Middle East, claiming to have delivered 60 percent of the food aid that has reached Gaza since the onset of Israel’s conflict with Hamas in 2023.
However, Israeli officials have consistently accused UNRWA of serving as a facade for militant organizations and jeopardizing national security. Tensions escalated following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, with allegations that a few UNRWA employees were involved in the incident.
Investigations, including one conducted by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, identified certain “neutrality-related issues” within UNRWA but concluded that Israel had not substantiated its primary claims.
In the wake of these allegations, many donors reduced their financial support for UNRWA, although nearly all have since reinstated their contributions.
The relationship between Norway and Israel has deteriorated in recent years, particularly after Norway, along with Spain and Ireland, recognized a Palestinian state last May.
