'Israel' setting dangerous precedent for IHL Gaza violations: Norway
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The Norwegian government is protesting the severely low respect for international law in the war on Gaza.
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A young Palestinian waits to collect donated food at a food distribution kitchen in Deir al-Balah in Gaza on May 30, 2025 (AP)
"Israel" is setting a dangerous precedent with its violations of international human rights law in Gaza, thus making the entire world more dangerous, Norway’s Minister of International Development warned.
Norway became one of the few European nations to formally recognize the State of Palestine recently.
“For the last one and a half years we have seen very low respect for international law in the war in Gaza and in recent months it is worse than ever before,” said Åsmund Aukrust. “So for the Norwegian government it is very important to protest against this, to condemn this very clear violation.”
He added that beyond deepening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, "Israel’s" actions risk setting a dangerous global precedent that could affect future conflicts around the world.
Violations underway
Aukrust voiced great concern regarding a new international standard where "food is used as a weapon, where the UN is denied entrance to the war and conflict zone, and other NGOs are denied entrance."
The minister further warned that the Israeli occupation is "building up something they call Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which is to militarise humanitarian aid.”
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has stated that "Israel" is blocking nearly all humanitarian aid into Gaza, leaving the population with minimal access to food and essential supplies.
The controversial US-led Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began distributing food in Gaza this week.
More dangerous world for all
The Palestinian media released footage showing Palestinian civilians being targeted with stun grenades while waiting to receive humanitarian aid at a distribution site near the Netzarim Corridor.
A UN-supported assessment earlier this month warned that all 2.1 million residents of the Gaza Strip are at critical risk of famine, with around 500,000 people classified as being in a state of catastrophe.
Norwegian Minister Åsmund Aukrust expressed deep concern, stating, “We are afraid and very concerned that this might be a new standard in international law and this will make the world a lot more dangerous to all of us.”
However, Aukrust emphasized that it is not the role of politicians to determine whether the situation in Gaza constitutes genocide, noting that such decisions lie with the International Court of Justice.
Meanwhile, he emphasized that “genocide is the worst crime a country can do and the worst crime that politicians can do and this should not be polarised."
