Israel has refused to grant Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre entry to the country for official discussions, according to Norwegian media reports citing informed sources.
Reports suggest the denial was “for political reasons” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Støre sought to visit Israel following the implementation of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas came into effect on 10 October, leading to the release of 20 hostages held in Gaza since October 2023, marking the freedom of all surviving hostages.
In exchange, Israel released around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including life-sentenced individuals convicted of terrorism-related offences.
International recognition of the State of Palestine has continued to grow, with 147 countries recognizing Palestinian statehood.
The United States vetoed Palestine’s bid for full United Nations membership in 2024. Throughout that year, ten additional countries, including Norway, Spain, Ireland, and Armenia, formally recognized Palestine.
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