Norway announced Thursday that it has officially established diplomatic relations with the State of Palestine on X, marking a significant move amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

Today, we mark the establishment of diplomatic relations between #Norway and the State of #Palestine. Congratulations to the newly appointed Palestinian ambassador @marie_sedin on the presentation of her credentials to His Majesty King Harald. pic.twitter.com/FoeJs4CrxK

— Norway MFA (@NorwayMFA) April 24, 2025

The announcement coincided with the formal presentation of credentials by Marie Sedin, the newly appointed Palestinian ambassador to Norway, during a ceremony at the Royal Palace, TRT Global Reported.

Sedin presented her credentials to King Harald V, formally launching the new diplomatic mission.

Norway’s recognition provides Palestine with a full diplomatic venue in Oslo and represents a major gesture of goodwill between the two nations. Including Norway, 13 European countries now formally recognize Palestine, alongside 148 of the 193 United Nations member states.

Norway Recognizes Palestine as a State in May 2024

Norway first decided to recognize Palestine as a state on May 22, 2024, as Israel intensified its military operations in Gaza, which have killed more than 51,200 Palestinians and wounded hundreds of thousands, according to Palestinian officials.

The Norwegian government has repeatedly affirmed its support for Palestinian independence and a two-state solution, advocating for Israelis and Palestinians to live peacefully within their own sovereign states.

Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its military operations in Gaza. Additionally, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Norway has stated it would arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they entered the country, becoming the first European nation to make such a public declaration.

Read more at TRT Global.