President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas visited Norway

Translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence*

‘I am pleased to welcome the President of Palestine to Norway. At the same time, I am deeply concerned by the developments in Palestine. While we are meeting here, the situation for the Palestinian people is dramatic,’ said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

This was the first time President Abbas visited Norway since Norway recognised the State of Palestine in May 2024.

Although the second phase of the peace plan currently is underway, the situation in Gaza remains extremely dire for its approximately two million inhabitants. The eastern part of Gaza is under Israeli control, and the humanitarian needs are immense. Goods and aid are arriving in insufficient quantities, and 80 per cent of buildings have either been destroyed or remains in ruins.

In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the situation is grave. The daily life of many Palestinians is marked by settler violence, expansion of settlements, Israeli military operations, house demolitions, and extensive restrictions on movement. Most recently, this Sunday, Israeli authorities announced a series of new measures to increase Israeli control on the West Bank. This undermines the possibility of a future two-state solution.

‘The developments in Palestine must find a new path. Together with like-minded countries, Norway will continue its efforts for a two-state solution and work to counteract the destructive forces pulling developments in a negative direction,’ said Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.

Norway has been one of Palestine’s strongest supporters for several decades. Norway maintains close contact with the Palestinian authorities, helping to build strong Palestinian institutions, and provides extensive humanitarian aid. In 2025, Norway contributed NOK 2.1 billion in support to Palestine.

‘The goal of our engagement in Palestine is to bring an end to the hostilities and occupation, and to achieve a lasting political solution in which Palestine and Israel can live side by side in peace and security. A genuine two-state solution is vital - not only for the Palestinians but also for the Israelis, for stability in the Middle East, and for Europe’s security,’ said Støre.

* This is a preliminary translation, using AI. The text has also been proof read by our employees, but there can be certain discrepancies from the original Norwegian text. An updated official translation will follow.