Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre at a meeting at the UN Security Council 23 September 2025. Credit: Pontus Höök / The permanent mission to the UN

As delivered (transcribed from audio recording)

Thank you, Mr. President,

I have requested to speak in order to make three essential points about the horror we are witnessing in Palestine, so let med address them.

First, we join others in expressing our deepest concern about Israel’s expanded military campaign ongoing in Gaza as we meet.

We re-iterate our call for an immediate ceasefire, drastically improved humanitarian access, and the unconditional release of remaining hostages.

Second, while this crisis requires immediate action; it is just as important to lay the foundations now for the day after the war, and for the end to the conflict.

As the conference yesterday made clear: the overwhelming majority of Member States of the United Nations consider the two-state solution the only credible basis for peace in the Middle East. – Peace for Israelis, and peace for Palestinians.

Mr. President,

My capital city – Oslo – is in many ways synonymous with those efforts, thanks to the Oslo Accords that created the Palestinian Authority back in 1993.

Ever since my country has worked towards one goal: peace, security and dignity for the Palestinians and the Israelis, living side-by-side in two sovereign states, enjoying the rights and obligations that follow from the Charter of the United Nations.

Norway recognized the State of Palestine in May last year. That was a hand to those on both sides who seek a peaceful solution.

And I need to say on behalf of those who recognized Palestine yesterday; doing so is turning the back on terror, it is turning the back on Hamas, it is taking the voice away from them, and handing it to the peaceful part of the Palestinian overwhelming majority, who want to live with rights and obligations under the Charter.

Our decision reflected a realization that the ‘old approach’ – waiting for a negotiated outcome before we recognize – was no longer a feasible option.

One party simply refused to engage and to veto progress. We cannot live with that.

So let this be clear: A Palestinian State has been part of the vision for decades.

Today, we are far from realizing it on the ground. But the international support for and recognition of the State of Palestine is gaining momentum.

The majority is growing. And I commend France and Saudi Arabia for arranging the historic session in the General Assembly yesterday.

This week, two additional Permanent Members of the Security Council declared: it is time.

Which brings me to my third point, Mr. President.

Let us use this momentum.

  • To mobilize necessary financial support.
  • To support the Palestinian authorities with necessary reforms.
  • To implement the roadmap that was agreed in the General Assembly on September 12.
  • And to resume meaningful engagement and decisive peace talks.

Norway will host – as we do every year – a Ministerial meeting of the International Donor Group for Palestine, the AHLC, in New York this week.

As stated by Prime Minister Mustafa, the severe lack of funds represents an existential and immediate threat to Palestinian state building.

Together with a broad group of countries we are working to raise emergency funding for that Palestinian Government.

We encourage all Member States to contribute.

And we continue to call on Israel to release the tax revenues owed to Palestine. This is Palestinian value creation, being held and kept away, and that has end.

There will be no State of Palestine – or a body to govern Gaza – the day after the war ends, without a functioning, reformed and legitimate Palestinian Authority. That is critical for peace and security in the region – including for Israel, Mr. President, thank you.