Group closely tied to Norway’s government secretly met with top Hamas officials in 2021

A Norwegian government-funded foundation, NOREF, held undisclosed meetings with senior Hamas officials in Gaza in 2021 to discuss improving ties between the terror group and the EU, according to internal Hamas documents seen by The Times of Israel. The meetings, which took place during the 11-day conflict, were revealed by NGO Monitor. Norway has not recognized Hamas as a terrorist organization, and its Foreign Ministry did not respond to questions.

The Times of Israel reports that NOREF, a foundation established, funded, and appointed by the Norwegian government, held undisclosed meetings with senior Hamas officials in Gaza in 2021. The meetings, which took place on May 15, 2021, during the 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas, were aimed at examining ways to improve ties between the terror group and the European Union. According to internal Hamas documents seen by The Times of Israel, NOREF was represented by its deputy head Marte Heian-Engdal and Middle East Department chief Frida Nome, while Hamas was represented by Bassem Naim, head of its Foreign Relations office, and Abdullah Walid. The agenda included mediating the relationship between Hamas and the EU. The documents, found during the war in Gaza and declassified by the IDF, were shown to The Times of Israel by the pro-Israel watchdog NGO Monitor. NOREF did not deny the meetings, stating that dialogue work entails contact with different conflict actors and does not imply endorsement. Norway has not recognized Hamas as a terrorist organization, and its Foreign Ministry did not respond to questions. The report also notes that Naim was a target of Israel's failed 2025 strike in Doha.