The Norwegian government joined others all over the world in expressing hope that the new ceasefire worked out between Israel and the Palestinian organization Hamas will hold. “This gives us hope that the suffering will stop,” said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, “but there’s still lots of work ahead.”
Norway has a long history of brokering peace in the Middle East, and was behind the so-called Oslo Agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians, only to see it fall apart like most other hopes for peace and a two-state solution. While Støre hailed all involved in this new pact, especially the US and its president Donald Trump, he told news bureau NTB that “the path to peace is long.”
Støre also hailed officials in Qatar, Egypt and Turkey for their “important contributions” to the peace process, stressing that “it is still a process. Now it’s critical that all parties involved respect and follow up the agreement,” Støre said.
“Norway is ready to contribute where we can in the work for a lasting peace, security and worthy lives for people both in Israel and Palestine,” Støre said. He called the release of Israeli hostages, Palestinian prisoners and the long-awaited entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza “the first step towards peace.”
Støre’s foreign minister, Espen Barth Eide, also said it was “extremely positive” that Israel and Hamas had agreed on the first portion of the ceasefire agreement, in line with Trump’s peace plan. Eide, who has years of experience dealing with all the trouble in the Middle East, also cautioned that there’s still a lot of work to be done.
“It’s critical that all involved live up to their obligations,” Eide stated on Thursday. He also hailed Trump and those from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey who “laid the foundation for this breakthrough.”
Now, he added, “the UN must be allowed to establish a presence in Gaza and coordinate the humanitarian operations. It’s critical that aid workers gain access and can work under safe conditions. Our experience from the ceasefire in March show that this is possible.”
Eide also made another attempt at promoting a two-state solution. “In order to secure a fair and sustainable solution, the Palestinians must be able to participate in the process and form a future in their own country. Only a two-state solution, where both Palestinians and Israelis can live with safety, freedom and with faith in the future of their own states, can provide the foundation for lasting peace.”
“At the same time,” Eide added, “we must not forget the West Bank.” He said Israel’s occupation must end in all of Palestine including East Jerusalem, “and we need a lasting political solution based on the two-state solution.”
NewsinEnglish.no/Nina Berglund
