Hundreds protest in Oslo ahead of 'Israel'-Norway World Cup qualifier

• Hundreds rallied in Oslo in support of Palestine.
• Protest took place before 'Israel’s' World Cup qualifier against Norway.

Hundreds of demonstrators filled the streets of Oslo on Saturday, rallying in support of Palestine just hours before 'Israel’s' World Cup qualifier match against Norway.

Chanting “Free Palestine” and waving Palestinian flags, the protesters marched peacefully from the city center to Ullevaal Stadium, denouncing what they called 'Israeli' “genocide.” Many wore keffiyehs draped across their shoulders, while smoke flares colored the air.

“The message today is to say we give the red card to Israel, to apartheid, and to genocide,” said Line Khateeb, head of the Norwegian Committee for Palestine and one of the protest organizers. She added, “We do not accept football being used to whitewash war crimes, as we see today when Israel participates in the World Cup qualification games.”

Banners reading “Exclude Israel from International Football,” “From the River to the Sea,” “Red Card to Israel,” and “It’s a Genocide, Not a War” were held high throughout the procession.

One protester, Munib Sarwar, a 40-year-old engineer, told Agence France-Presse (AFP), “Israel has been committing genocide for the last two years and killing indiscriminately, doing the most horrible thing that could be imaginable. We need to show solidarity with the children and the people of Gaza who have been terrorised for the last two years.”

The protest went ahead despite the recent ceasefire deal reached between 'Israel' and Hamas in Gaza. Khateeb emphasized that the truce does not mark the end of the occupation.

“It's not the end of the occupation. It doesn't mean the West Bank is free. It doesn't mean Palestine is free. We need to keep pushing and putting sanctions on Israel to hold them accountable in order to have a proper free Palestine,” she said.

Security around the stadium was tight, with mounted police and riot officers stationed nearby.

The demonstration comes as pressure grows within Norwegian football circles. Lise Klaveness, head of Norwegian Football Federation, recently stated, “Personally, I think that if Russia is excluded, Israel should be as well.”

UEFA and FIFA banned Russian teams shortly after the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a sanction that remains in effect.

Meanwhile, the Norwegian Football Federation has pledged to donate the proceeds from Saturday’s match to Doctors Without Borders.

Norway currently leads Group I in the qualifiers with 15 points, ahead of Italy and 'Israel', who are tied at nine points each.