Statement from Foreign Minister Eide on report on Gaza

News story | Date: 16/09/2025 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs

'Today, a report was presented by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, established by the UN Human Rights Council. The report concludes that Israel is responsible for failing to prevent genocide, for committing genocide, and for failing to punish genocide. We take the findings of the report very seriously. We will carefully study the commission's findings and recommendations and follow up on them in our further policy development', said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

'The International Court of Justice (ICJ) already stated in January 2024 that there is a risk that Israel is violating the rights of Palestinians under the Genocide Convention. At the same time, the ICJ ordered Israel to implement all possible measures to prevent acts of genocide, to punish incitement to genocide, and to ensure access to humanitarian aid. There is no doubt that Israel has committed grave violations of international law, and pending a decision from the ICJ, Israel is obligated to counteract and prevent genocide. These are statements that we, from the Norwegian side, have taken seriously and acted upon.

In the early hours of today, the IDF carried out one of the worst attacks on Gaza since the war began nearly two years ago. In one week, world leaders will gather at the UN General Assembly in New York, where the situation in Palestine and the need to end the unimaginable human suffering in Gaza will be a key issue. This will also be a main priority for us in the Norwegian delegation', said Eide.