‘Norway increases support for Palestine by NOK 125 million. In 2026, Norway is providing around NOK 1 billion in aid to Palestine.’ And ‘Hi, Norway’, from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. These were the two greetings that the Norwegian government posted to the Norwegian people on Thursday.
It was on Facebook that the two messages from the government were posted. They read in full, first:
Video from Støre and Mamdani
New York City Mayor @nycmayor Zohran Mamdani and Prime Minister @jonasgahrs met pupils at a primary school in New York. Mamdani has read about what Norway is now doing in schools to protect our children: We are taking mobile phones out of schools and taking further measures on AI. Støre and Mamdani will stay in touch and share experiences going forward. Both agree on less screen use in schools and the responsible use of artificial intelligence. And the most important things in the classroom are: the children and learning.
Together with the text, a video was posted in which Mamdani and Støre cheerfully waved their hands together with some American children, greeting Norway with ‘Hi, Norway’, accompanied by an American children’s song, before the two adults shook hands and exchanged football shirts.
One billion for Palestine in 2026
The second message from the government yesterday, Thursday, featured a large Palestinian flag and the following text:
Norway increases support for Palestine by NOK 125 million. In 2026, Norway is providing around NOK 1 billion in aid to Palestine. ‘Norway is among the strongest advocates for getting early reconstruction under way in Gaza. The work is progressing too slowly. There is an urgent need to implement the 20-point plan for peace adopted by the UN Security Council last year. More humanitarian aid must be brought in. Reconstruction must get under way. Palestinian ownership is an important prerequisite,’ says Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.
The government wrote, and linked to more information about all the money going to Palestine.
Both messages from the government prompted a response. Mostly expressions of disapproval, not least the one about Palestine. The criticism poured in, one must almost say, to such an extent that the government felt compelled to close the comments section. But they have, at least for the time being, not removed those who managed to have their say.
Squandering Norwegians’ money?
We reproduce just a couple of them:
‘Why? It only ends up in the pockets of Hamas, which gives crumbs back to the population. Shameful,’ wrote Mary-Ann, receiving 865 likes.
‘Why does the government support terrorist regimes?’ Astri asked, receiving 709 likes. While Egil wrote:
‘Insane squandering of our money’, receiving 535 likes.
It is difficult to spot anyone applauding this latest distribution of millions, but Seeyn from Somalia wrote that this was positive and thanked Norway.
