In a statement issued after a recent conference, the Norwegian Bishops condemned violations of international law and warned of the genocide in Gaza. They described the situation as not only a humanitarian collapse but also a moral one.
The bishops demanded an immediate ceasefire, the release of prisoners, urgent aid to Gaza, and an end to attacks in the occupied West Bank. They also urged the Norwegian government and the international community to impose political and economic pressure on Israel—including sanctions—to stop the "ethnic cleansing policy against Palestinians".
Olav Fykse Tveit, the head of the Norwegian Bishops’ Conference, told Al Jazeera that Western churches, especially in Scandinavian countries, are beginning to issue similar statements. He hopes these voices will spread across Europe and North America and help build a unified moral stance at a time when the world remains largely silent.
“Churches and religious institutions hold moral weight,” Tveit said. “Decision-makers in democratic countries often listen to the church, especially when it comes to human rights and humanitarian values.”
Regarding possible European sanctions on Israel, Tveit said that decision rests with political leaders. However, he confirmed that discussions on this issue are ongoing in international forums.
Rifat Kassis, Secretary-General of the Palestinian Christian Initiative, said the bishops’ call for sanctions was not surprising. He called it the result of persistent Palestinian advocacy led by Kairos Palestine and other Christian institutions.
