In 2021, the Norwegian Centre for Conflict Resolution (NOREF), an organization heavily funded by the Norwegian government, conducted secret meetings with senior Hamas officials in Gaza. According to documents recovered from Hamas, the discussions centered on the possibility of NOREF acting as a mediator between the European Union and the militant group.

The revelation has drawn attention to the nature of Norway’s diplomatic channels. While NOREF maintains that its mission is to facilitate dialogue in complex conflict zones, the fact that these meetings were kept undisclosed until the discovery of internal Hamas records has prompted questions regarding transparency. NOREF has defended its actions by clarifying that maintaining contact with various factions is a standard part of their mediation work and does not imply political support or endorsement of Hamas’s ideology or actions.

There is no disagreement regarding the occurrence of the meetings, as NOREF has acknowledged the contact. However, the framing of the event varies significantly. Some observers view the meetings as a necessary, albeit controversial, diplomatic tool for conflict resolution, while others emphasize the security implications of a government-funded entity engaging directly with a group designated as a terrorist organization by the EU and the United States.