DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇱 Israel /Conflict & Security

Norwegian NGO Accused of Direct Coordination with Hamas Officials Based on Recovered Documents

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Norwegian Center for Conflict Resolution (NOREF) allegedly engaged in direct coordination with Hamas officials, according to documents declassified by the IDF and translated by NGO Monitor.
  • Internal Hamas documents suggest the organization viewed NOREF as a channel to influence EU policy and mitigate international isolation, including a July 2021 meeting where Hamas sought to leverage NOREF's access to Western circles.
  • NGO Monitor claims the documents indicate NOREF's activities went beyond mediation, involving unpublicized joint projects with EU-designated terrorist organizations and training Hamas, PIJ, PFLP, and Fatah members.

The Norwegian Center for Conflict Resolution (NOREF), an independent foundation primarily funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is accused of engaging in direct and systematic coordination with high-ranking Hamas officials. This allegation stems from internal Hamas documents recovered from Gaza, declassified by the IDF, and translated by NGO Monitor.

Mediating the relationship between Hamas and the European Union.

— Hamas documentStated agenda of a May 2021 meeting between Hamas officials and a NOREF delegation.

According to NGO Monitor's analysis of these documents, Hamas viewed NOREF as a strategic asset for influencing European Union policy and alleviating its international isolation. A specific July 2021 document reportedly details Hamas's strategy to exploit the situation in the Palestinian territories to alter European foreign policy, utilizing NOREF's connections.

The documents allegedly describe a May 2021 meeting between senior Hamas officials, including Basem Naim, and a NOREF delegation. The stated agenda was "Mediating the relationship between Hamas and the European Union." During this meeting, the NOREF delegation reportedly solicited Hamas's input on how to best interface with European leaders and asked about existing communication channels with the EU.

What are the channels of communication that are currently working on dialogue between the movement [Hamas] and the European Union? How are we able to contribute to this dialogue without obstructing these efforts?

— NOREF delegationQuestion posed to Hamas officials during a May 2021 meeting, as detailed in a Hamas document.

Furthermore, NGO Monitor claims that a separate August 2022 document provides evidence of sustained engagement regarding a planned Norwegian delegation visit to Gaza. The report also alleges that NOREF trained members of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and Fatah in "political reconciliation," suggesting activities extended beyond occasional mediation to include joint projects with groups designated as terrorist organizations by the EU.

We have the youth project, and we value your effort with us in facilitating some of the meetings and communications on this matter.

— NOREF representativePraise for Hamas's cooperation on a joint initiative, as reported by NGO Monitor.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog