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Protests Erupt at Norway-Israel World Cup Qualifier, Leading to Arrests and Tear Gas Deployment
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Norway’s World cup qualification match against Israel on Saturday was overshadowed by widespread protests and clashes with police, highlighting the escalating tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict in the middle East.Demonstrations, initially peaceful, escalated as some protesters breached police barriers and engaged in disruptive behavior, resulting in 17 arrests by 7:25 PM local time.
Demonstrations Precede and Disrupt Match
Over a thousand pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside Ullevaal Stadium prior to the match, with numbers dwindling to between 100 and 200 as the game progressed. The exhibition, organized by the Palestinian committee under the banner “Football Without Genocide,” aimed to draw attention to the situation in Gaza and call for Israel’s exclusion from international sporting events.
“we have a long way to go to keep Israel responsible for the crimes committed,” stated Line Khateeb,chair of the Palestinian Committee. One protester, fakhra Salimi, expressed her dismay at Israel’s participation, calling it “a shame for the sport and a shame for anyone who has allowed genocide to take place.” Salimi also criticized spectators, stating, “People are celebrating as if nothing has happened.”
Escalation and Police Response
Tensions flared as some protesters reportedly broke through police barriers. Shortly after, authorities deployed tear gas to control the crowd, according to police statements. “Several protesters have broken the police officers outside Ullevaal Stadium. We have therefore used gas to control the crowd.No persons are injured in connection with this,” a police spokesperson reported around 7:00 PM.
Police, equipped with helmets, safety equipment, and gas masks, moved to push back the protesters. Objects were thrown at officers prior to the tear gas deployment, prompting the response. “It is not impossible for anyone to be arrested,” operations manager Gabriel Langfeldt told NRK shortly before 7:20 PM.
By 8:42 PM, police confirmed the arrest of 17 individuals, reporting they were being charged with disruption of order, damage to property, and failure to comply with police orders. The arrests took place over 900 meters from the stadium in Ullevål Hageby. All those arrested have been taken into police custody.
Wider Disruptions and Security Concerns
The protests extended beyond the immediate vicinity of the stadium. Around 4:00 PM, approximately a thousand protesters gathered in Spikersuppa in downtown Oslo. Three individuals were removed from the site due to disruptive behavior.furthermore, a political strike led to the temporary suspension of all trams, subways, and several bus routes in Oslo at 5:00 PM, with striking workers displaying signs reading “Stop the genocide, the oil fund out of Israel.”
security measures surrounding the match were unprecedented for a football game on Norwegian soil, reflecting concerns about potential disruptions. “Both to those who want to speak, to those who are going to play a football match, and not least to the visitors the team we have from Israel, who generates extra security measures from us,” explained interim police leader Anders Rønning.
The match itself was briefly interrupted when an activist stormed the pitch seven minutes after kickoff
